Dr. Timothy C. Brennan Jr.

January 15, 1944 - February 1, 2021

Tim passed away on February 1, 2021 at his home, with his loving wife Gemma Brennan, forever present at his side. Tim had been diagnosed with cancer in the fall of 2019. Tim was born at Fort Riley, Kansas on January 15, 1944. Both of Tim’s parents, Vera and Timothy, Sr, are deceased and he is survived by his sister, Kathleen Brennan. One of Tim’s most admired people in his life was his dad who, during World War II, then a captain in the Army, was in charge of an operation that liberated 13,000 people from the Nazi concentration camp of Ebensee in the Austrian Alps. In 1990 a memorial was erected near there to honor his father and his liberation force. Tim is also survived by his son, Timothy Charles Brennan, III and his family, ,and his daughter, Francine Brennan Byers, and her family, along with several cousins: Mary Dzioba, Meg and Mike Dorsey, Mike McCoy, Marie Bilick, Joyce Giglio, Kate Isgro, and their children and grandchildren. His cousin, Kathleen McCoy passed in 2013 as did his cousin Matthew Dzioba in 2014 Tim is a graduate of St. Rose High School , Belmar(where he and three of his classmates had a band “The Royal T’s”), La Salle University, Pa. (BA, 1965), Fairleigh Dickinson University (Masters, 1970) Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ (Doctorate in Education 1979.) Starting his highly involved and active professional path in Education, Tim taught English at St. Rose High School and directed/orchestrated the school plays. During Tim’s illness he was still receiving letters of love and gratitude from students he taught in the 60s. Tim continued on to Wall Township High School English Department, once again directed the school plays and was then promoted to English Department Chairman in1968. Holmdel Public Schools was his next rewarding experience where he served as as Supervisor of English, Director of Curriculum, Assistant Superintendent, and ending his career in Holmdel as Superintendent. When Tim left Holmdel Schools an editorial in the Asbury Park Press (December 12, 1992) had the headline “An Exceptional Man: Brennan led Holmdel schools to greatness.” Tim continued his professional life for eight years as the Superintendent of Schools in Parsippany- Troy Hill Public Schools (1993-2000). As Tim completed his time at Parsippany schools the local paper wrote their editorial with the headline: “Touch act to follow Tim Brennan has left his mark on Parsippany’s school system. “ His career led him to Huntington, New York, Unified School District (Superintendent 2000-2003). Returning to NJ Tim served as an interim Superintendent of Schools in Union Township (2004-2005), Cherry Hill (2005-2006), Moorestown (2006-2007) Ridgewood, NJ (2007-2008), Acting Executive County Superintendent, Hudson, NJ (2009-2011.) and Old Bridge Public Schools (2011-2013). Tim ended his career in the Public Schools at the Long Beach Island Consolidated School District serving as principal/supervisor of Child Study (2013-2014). At the college/ university level Tim taught at Rutgers University, Ocean County College, Georgian Court University, and for two years was an on-line lecturer in Expository Writing for the University of Phoenix. In 2016 Tim was honored during a luncheon at Rutgers and given the award of Outstanding Contributor to the Rutgers Writing Program. An additional educational adventure for Tim was becoming the founding director of the DREAMER Institute, lecturing on three continents, helping attendees to understand the uses of human potential. Throughout Tim’s professional life he wrote for several noted syndicated magazines and was the host for a cablevision weekly show “Parent 101” and “Academy How-To Parsippany.” Tim and Gemma, were active members of the parish of St. Luke Roman Catholic Church in Toms River. Together they were lectors, Eucharistic Ministers, volunteers with the SVdP society, members of the Ministry for Maturing Adults, and Tim was a member of the parish choir and the chorus at Renaissance. Tim and Gemma most recently wrote a book entitled: “The Connective Balance Within” and each month they wrote an article for the Renaissance Times (a monthly paper for the community where they lived.) During their years of marriage Tim and Gemma were facilitators for many workshops within the Toms River Community, the Toms River Schools, their parish, and The Renaissance Community. Still active during his 70s Tim used his leadership skills to support a most important local organization “The Toms River Family Health and Support Coalition” which has the goal of helping all citizens of Toms River. Tim enjoyed golf and was an accomplished pianist, and conductor. A month prior to Tim’s passing he completed the writing and composing of his Christmas song: “That’s How You Know It is Christmas.” Tim and Gemma traveled extensively throughout the world and enjoyed visiting many states within the United States. Together they felt this enhanced their writing and Tim’s love of music. Tim is survived by his wife, Gemma, and his “2nd family” Don MacCarrick, his fiancé Marney Silva and their four children, Dr. Matthew and Carin MacCarrick and their three sons, and Kate and Ed VanTassel and their two sons., his sister-in-law, Dawn Colapietro and many cousins, nieces and nephews from Gemma’s family. Tim was a mentor to many individuals throughout his life and was a caring and devoted friend. Tim’s reflection about life: “It is a gift from God, a gift of light and awareness. Tim felt that George Bernard Shaw said it best when he wrote: “Life is no brief candle…It’s a flaming torch which I have a hold of for the moment, and I intend to make it burn as brightly as I can before handing it off to future generations”. Dr. Timothy Charles Brennan, Jr. was truly an exceptional man who was highly respected and loved through out his life and will be profoundly missed by those who must go forward without him. There will be a mass in Tim’s memory and a repast to celebrate his life in the month of May. If you choose to make a charitable donation in memory of Tim, the family asks you to consider the SVdP society of St. Luke’s parish, Toms River or a charity of your personal choice.