Obituary for Thomas J. Brennan Jr.
Thomas Joseph Brennan, Jr. aged 61, passed away peacefully on December 9th surrounded by
his loving family after a brief illness.
Born on January 11, 1961, to Thomas and Judith Brennan at Jamaica Hospital, Queens, he was
proud to have been raised in Pleasantville, New York, and be a part of the Pleasantville Class of
1979. After graduating from Guilford College in Greensboro, North Carolina, Tom returned to
Pleasantville and met the love of his life, Kathy (Link). They married on September 6, 1987.
Together, they moved to Tarrytown and had their first child, Thomas Joseph III, before settling in
Buchanan and having three more beautiful children, Ryan Christopher, Kevin Michael and Kelly
Frances.
Tom worked at Irving Rice & Co. for many years, starting in customer service and moving up to
become one of their top sales representatives. He loved traveling to Europe to the various
factories the company worked with, meeting store buyers, and especially attending the trade
shows. Since leaving Irving Rice, Tom worked at the Cortlandt Recreation Youth Center with
middle school age children, which he enjoyed immensely. He was a starter at the Fishkill Golf
Course and Highlands Country Club. He was also an airport driver.
Shortly after settling in Buchanan, Tom became a fixture in the Buchanan, Cortlandt and
Hendrick Hudson communities, coaching baseball, basketball, and roller hockey for all of his
children during every season. His commitment to coaching, volunteering, and helping earned
him an award from Westchester County through the Town of Cortlandt Recreation and, one of
his most proudest moments, an induction into the Cortlandt National Little League Hall of Fame
this past spring.
He had the biggest heart and loved life. He loved watching Jeopardy, the Mets, the Jets, and
any hockey game. He loved crosswords, puzzles, playing poker, a family card game called “Oh
Hell,” and passed on his competitiveness and game loving on to his children. He loved the
corny dad jokes. He loved watching his beautiful daughter dance, whether at a recital or in the
living room. He loved to laugh and his laughter brought on more laughter. He taught everybody
about love, caring, and the simple art of being there. Tom absolutely loved meeting new people,
almost everyone becoming a fast friend. And once you were a friend, you are a friend for life.
Just ask the Pleasantville crew he grew up with. Or the guys, parents and players he met while
coaching his children.
Tom loved and admired his mother and father. He loved his brother and sister. He loved taking
walks with his beautiful bride trying to find the best sunrise and sunset. He loved going for a
drive in the first fallen snow, seeking out people on the road that might need assistance. His
Grandfather taught him the game of golf and he fell in love with it instantaneously. To have his
sons complete his foursome brought him the most pride and joy. He loved his long, late night,
often one-sided conversations with Kelly, his princess. He loved Dakota, even though he never
wanted a dog. He was so proud to have a grandson, Tommy 4, and was so excited to take him
to Fishkill one day.
Tom is survived by his beautiful bride of 35 years, Mary Kathleen, and his four children, Tommy
III (Emily), Ryan, Kevin, and Kelly, grandson Tommy IV, mother Judith, sister Katie, brother
Chris, dog Dakota, several nieces and nephews, many aunts, uncles and cousins, and
countless friends, especially the Pleasantville crew, teammates and students. He is
predeceased by his father, Thomas J. Brennan.
The family would like to express their love, gratitude, and appreciation to family and the
Pleasantville and Buchanan friends for their endless support, concern, and love during Tom’s
short illness.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Thomas’ name to The Thomas R. Bertoline
Youth Athletic Foundation, 2 Blake Lane, Cortlandt Manor, NY 10567 (Venmo
@TRBYouthSportsFoundation-Berto), American Diabetes Association or Epilepsy Foundation.
his loving family after a brief illness.
Born on January 11, 1961, to Thomas and Judith Brennan at Jamaica Hospital, Queens, he was
proud to have been raised in Pleasantville, New York, and be a part of the Pleasantville Class of
1979. After graduating from Guilford College in Greensboro, North Carolina, Tom returned to
Pleasantville and met the love of his life, Kathy (Link). They married on September 6, 1987.
Together, they moved to Tarrytown and had their first child, Thomas Joseph III, before settling in
Buchanan and having three more beautiful children, Ryan Christopher, Kevin Michael and Kelly
Frances.
Tom worked at Irving Rice & Co. for many years, starting in customer service and moving up to
become one of their top sales representatives. He loved traveling to Europe to the various
factories the company worked with, meeting store buyers, and especially attending the trade
shows. Since leaving Irving Rice, Tom worked at the Cortlandt Recreation Youth Center with
middle school age children, which he enjoyed immensely. He was a starter at the Fishkill Golf
Course and Highlands Country Club. He was also an airport driver.
Shortly after settling in Buchanan, Tom became a fixture in the Buchanan, Cortlandt and
Hendrick Hudson communities, coaching baseball, basketball, and roller hockey for all of his
children during every season. His commitment to coaching, volunteering, and helping earned
him an award from Westchester County through the Town of Cortlandt Recreation and, one of
his most proudest moments, an induction into the Cortlandt National Little League Hall of Fame
this past spring.
He had the biggest heart and loved life. He loved watching Jeopardy, the Mets, the Jets, and
any hockey game. He loved crosswords, puzzles, playing poker, a family card game called “Oh
Hell,” and passed on his competitiveness and game loving on to his children. He loved the
corny dad jokes. He loved watching his beautiful daughter dance, whether at a recital or in the
living room. He loved to laugh and his laughter brought on more laughter. He taught everybody
about love, caring, and the simple art of being there. Tom absolutely loved meeting new people,
almost everyone becoming a fast friend. And once you were a friend, you are a friend for life.
Just ask the Pleasantville crew he grew up with. Or the guys, parents and players he met while
coaching his children.
Tom loved and admired his mother and father. He loved his brother and sister. He loved taking
walks with his beautiful bride trying to find the best sunrise and sunset. He loved going for a
drive in the first fallen snow, seeking out people on the road that might need assistance. His
Grandfather taught him the game of golf and he fell in love with it instantaneously. To have his
sons complete his foursome brought him the most pride and joy. He loved his long, late night,
often one-sided conversations with Kelly, his princess. He loved Dakota, even though he never
wanted a dog. He was so proud to have a grandson, Tommy 4, and was so excited to take him
to Fishkill one day.
Tom is survived by his beautiful bride of 35 years, Mary Kathleen, and his four children, Tommy
III (Emily), Ryan, Kevin, and Kelly, grandson Tommy IV, mother Judith, sister Katie, brother
Chris, dog Dakota, several nieces and nephews, many aunts, uncles and cousins, and
countless friends, especially the Pleasantville crew, teammates and students. He is
predeceased by his father, Thomas J. Brennan.
The family would like to express their love, gratitude, and appreciation to family and the
Pleasantville and Buchanan friends for their endless support, concern, and love during Tom’s
short illness.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Thomas’ name to The Thomas R. Bertoline
Youth Athletic Foundation, 2 Blake Lane, Cortlandt Manor, NY 10567 (Venmo
@TRBYouthSportsFoundation-Berto), American Diabetes Association or Epilepsy Foundation.