James Anthony Brennan, Jr.'s Obituary
BRENNAN
James A. Brennan, Jr., died on December 20, 2011 at the age of 95 from complications of heart surgery. Mr. Brennan, from Coral Gables, is survived by his wife Yolanda (married 66 years), 10 children, 28 grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren. Jim Brennan was Chairman of the Board of Brennan Construction Corporation, a Florida corporation organized in 1940. As Chairman, Brennan did most of the general contracting work for Archbishop Joseph P. Hurley of the Catholic Diocese of St. Augustine, Florida. Mr. Brennan attended the University of Havana in Cuba. In 1963 Mr. Brennan was employed by the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. He later became the Honorary Vice Consul of the Republic of Panama. During the 70’s and 80’s, James Brennan served as executive assistant for the revered former Florida Congressman Claude Pepper. Brennan was Pepper’s closest confidant in the latter part of the congressman’s career, including during Rep. Pepper’s chairmanships of the House Aging Committee and House Rules Committee, while the congressman represented the South Florida/Miami-Miami Beach area. After Pepper died in 1989, Brennan served as Board member and senior advisor to the Claude Pepper Foundation. Mr. Brennan authored his memoirs in 2010, entitled 'A Journey with Senator Pepper'. Mr. Brennan also served as a former Chairman of the Board of Directors of American Savings Loan Association of Florida, former Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Union Bank of Florida, and was also the Receiver for two Federal Judges. As a consultant to Brennan Realty, Inc. Mr. Brennan brought a wide range of experience dealing with the Federal, State and Local Governments. He was predeceased by son Leo Brennan – deceased shortly after his birth, and son Manuel Brennan – deceased May 2009. In addition to his wife Yolanda, he is survived by children James A. (Claudia) Brennan, Jr., Yolanda Kahle, Margarita (Mike) Wells, Mary Anne (Paul) Bougon, Nina (Robert) Kennedy, Barry (Michael) Brennan, Anne (Frank) Savoldy, Thomas (Kathy) Brennan, Jean-Marie (Manuel) Alvarez, and Joseph Brennan, sister in law Olga H. Arias Duval, niece Olga Del Carmen Arias, and nephew Bill (Marcela) Arias. Visitation 7 – 10 pm Tuesday at VAN ORSDEL CORAL GABLES CHAPEL. Funeral Mass 11 am Wednesday at the Church of the Little Flower. Burial Woodlawn Park North.
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