Obituary: Roger Brennan

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Roger Brennan
Roger Brennan

BEACON FALLS — Roger Brennan, 77, of Beacon Falls, the beloved husband of Joan (Bachinsky) Brennan for 55 years, entered into rest at his home on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2014.

Roger was born in Waterbury on May 12, 1936, son of the late William and Blanche (Grenier) Brennan, the latter of whom was later named Beacon Falls’ Woman of the Century. Roger lived with his family in Beacon Falls and attended Fairfield Preparatory High School for one year before finishing his high school education at Naugatuck High School. He was an avid athlete and the starting quarterback for the Greyhounds football team before graduating in 1954.

He began his career by spending several years with the Beacon Falls public works department, during which time he responded to the Flood of ‘55. He later spent more than three decades with Northeast Utilities, eventually retiring as a line supervisor. Roger took special pride in his involvement with Beacon Hose Co. No. 1, with which he spent 57 years as a volunteer firefighter. He was the department’s chief from 1966-71 and spent the following 15 years as fire marshal. Roger received numerous citations and awards for his volunteerism throughout his career, and he enjoyed riding in the company’s parade each June.

Roger’s home away from home was Charlestown, R.I., where he purchased a small cottage more than two decades ago and renovated it into a beautiful summer residence. There, he enjoyed fishing the breachways each morning and taking his extended family boating in salt ponds. He was a diehard fan of the Boston Red Sox and UConn basketball, a faithful parishioner at St. Michael’s Church of Beacon Falls, a jokester and a man who took tremendous pride in his family and his hometown.

Roger’s loving family includes his wife Joan; his sons, Paul Brennan and his wife Sheila of Beacon Falls, Michael Brennan and his wife Laura of Beacon Falls, and John Brennan and his wife Michelle of Southington; his daughter, Allison Rutledge and her husband Kent of Berlin; and his sisters, Margery Leonard of Southbury and Barbara Schaefer of Houston. Roger leaves behind 11 grandchildren: Megan, Kimberly, Kyle, Cal, Kevin, Cody Brennan of Beacon Falls; Ashley and Emily Rutledge of Berlin; and Mackinnon, Natalie and Lauren Brennan of Southington. He also leaves behind several cousins — including Marty Brennan of Thomaston — and numerous nieces and nephews. Roger was predeceased by his brother, William Franklyn Brennan, a Bronze Star Medal recipient who sacrificed his life during World War II in the U.S. Seventh Army’s Invasion of Sicily.

A mass of Christian burial will be held on Monday, Jan. 27, 2014 at 10 a.m. at St. Michael’s Church, 25 Maple Ave., Beacon Falls. Friends are asked to meet at the church at 9:45 a.m. Burial will follow in St. James Cemetery, Naugatuck. Calling hours will be held on Sunday from 2 to 5 p.m. at the Naugatuck Valley Memorial/Fitzgerald-Zembruski Funeral Home, 240 North Main St., Naugatuck.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Beacon Hose Company #1, 35 North Main St., Beacon Falls, CT 06403, or to St. Michael’s Church, 25 Maple Ave., Beacon Falls, CT 06403.

To send an online condolence, visit www.naugatuckvalleymemorial.com.