Brendan was South Bronx raised by his Irish Immigrant parents to be humble and to serve. Be it as an altar boy in his youth, or as a Holy Child and St Clare altar boy in his golden years, Brendan has always been a happy and unassuming servant.
He furthered that spirit of service not only for his Church, but for his country as well, spending two years in the army (upon graduating Cardinal Hayes HS) - though fortunately not called to Vietnam.
While attending and completing his bachelor’s degree at Fordham University at night, he started his long career at MetLife, and married his beloved wife of 58 years, Lillian.
When his children were at OLSS he was active in the Father's Club and led the parish's fundraising efforts for its "first new" church. He has in his life adopted a daughter, a prisoner, and an underprivileged third world community. He's been there to cheer and counsel any friend, any neighbor, any family member, and even any random passenger fortunate enough to ride along side him as he commutes to volunteer at the hospital. His legal blindness was a source of humor, not dismay, and was never an obstacle to his willingness to serve (nor his never ending search for "second chance" discarded lottery tickets, nor his annual Santa Claus obligations). Brendan had more recently, for 15 plus years, combined his call to serve Church and community via his Eucharistic Minister and Catholic ministry. All done with a smile, and with a self deprecating sense of humor perhaps only Brendan and a chosen few could appreciate.
Every day throughout his adult life, Brendan has worn his scapular, his army tag, and two religious medals around his neck, given to him in his youth, constant reminders of who he was, who he is, and who he will always be.
Brendan is survived by his cherished wife, Lillian - his five children, Marie and her husband Ben, Michael and his wife Kathleen, Edward, Stephen and his wife Joanna, and Dorothy and her husband Ralph, and his eleven grandchildren, Kaitlyn, Meagan, Danny, Julianna, Jacqueline, Evelyn, Jessenia, Lillianna, Emma, Keira and Gabriel.
A visitation for Brendan will be held Sunday, May 19, 2024 from 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM at Casey-McCallum Rice Funeral Home, 30 Nelson Avenue, Staten Island, NY 10308. A funeral service will occur Monday, May 20, 2024 at 9:45 AM at St. Clares Church, 110 Nelson Avenue, Staten Island, NY 10308. A committal service will occur Monday, May 20, 2024 at 11:15 AM at Resurrection Cemetery, 361 Sharrott Ave, New York, NY 10309.
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