George "Brian" McMenamin

Brian lived a life filled with love for family, country, and hope for a better future for his children. He was

fun to be with – he made Dad jokes often, and in his later years, he retold them often. He amassed a

treasure trove of stories, and thanks to a degree from Pace University along with a love for the English

language, he possessed a large vocabulary that would make most people wonder exactly what he was

saying. Though, for those that knew him, it was part of his charm.

After immigrating to New York from Dumbarton, Scotland, Brian spent many years serving the people of

NYC as a detective with NY’s Finest. It was not an easy job in the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s, but it was a job he

loved and one he excelled in. As a policeman, he faced troubling and, at times, traumatic experiences on

an all-to-frequent basis, but his calling to help those most in need was the passion that drove him to face

those difficulties day after day. The ability to make people feel safe was his forte – both at work and at

home with those he loved.

Brian’s children are his proudest accomplishment. He thought the world of each of them and was

especially proud of both of his sons for their service to our country. Watching them graduate together as

officers from the United States Naval Academy was surely one of his proudest moments. His admiration

for the Naval Academy was such that throughout his retirement he prioritized the opportunity to

volunteer as a Blue & Gold Officer to help recruit the next generation of Naval Academy officers.

Brian’s tough exterior, known to those who were only an acquaintance, was balanced by the much softer

side he reserved for his family who will forever remember his strong hugs and often delivered, “I love

you”.

His most recent favorite days included his beloved wife’s amazing meals, a big glass of red wine and his

favorite canine companion curled up next to him. After many years in the gritty streets of NYC’s

Midtown South, it was in Merritt, NC that he and his beautiful wife found the simple life they long

deserved.

Brian will be missed by many but remembered always by his beloved wife of 38 years, Marian, his

children Kelly, Jennifer and her partner Jeff, Shirley and her husband Randy, Brian and his wife Alma, Ian

and his wife Anne, his grandchildren Riley, Nicholas, Jason, Abigail, Logan, and Nora, his sister Maureen

and her husband Richard, his godson Brian, and his goddaughter Jennifer.

In the words of the man, himself, “Be good. Do good. Make it a great day. Knock ‘em dead. I love you.”

Terar Dum Prosim – “Tire for the Good of Others”

Motto of the McMenamin Clan