James P. Brennan, “Jim,” most recently of Crystal River FL, passed away on April 17, 2018, in Williamsburg VA at the age of 89. Born in Manhattan, New York City, to Peter and Catherine Brennan (Garr) on September 15, 1928, Jim was raised in Manhattan and the Kingsbridge section of the Bronx. He attended DeWitt Clinton High School, where he was a star football player.
After working for a short time in the Bronx family tavern business, Jim joined the Port of New York Authority Police, assigned to work on the George Washington Bridge. He later transferred to the New York City Police Department, where he worked for the balance of his twenty years of police service. Among his memories of his time “on the job,” were guarding Pope Paul VI when he visited New York City in 1965, Fidel Castro when he addressed the United Nations in New York, and serving on the details guarding Michelangelo’s Pietà and Mona Lisa when they were displayed in New York.
Retiring from the NYPD Detective Division in April, 1972, Jim moved to West Dover, VT, to pursue his lifelong avocations of skiing and golf. While in Vermont, Jim worked for Mt Snow as a ski and golf instructor, and for a time served as the Town of Dover Chief of Police.
In 1985, Jim again relocated, this time to Crystal River, FL, working as a golf instructor at the Golf School at Plantation Inn Golf Course. Jim retired from the Golf School as Head Pro in 1998.
Jim is survived by his sons James and Robert, his brother Patrick, grandchildren Suzanne (Brennan) Scott, Michael Brennan, Alexandra Brennan and Gabrielle Brennan, and by great grandchildren James and Rebecca Scott.
A visitation will be held at Nelsen Funeral Home, 3785 Strawberry Plains Rd., Williamsburg, VA on Sunday, April 22 from 11a.m. to 1:00p.m., followed by a service at 1:00p.m.
Online condolences may be offered at www.nelsenwilliamsburg.com.
