Martin Joseph Brennan

Martin Joseph Brennan (Marty) was born April 30, 1945 in San Francisco, California.  He was the second of six children (three sisters: Genevieve, Mary and Nancy; and two brothers: Willie and Pat) to Vernon and Winifred Brennan. Marty was one of 31 O’Brien cousins.

Marty grew up in Sacramento, attending All Hallows, St. Pats, and St. Pius X Seminary. He attended Bishop Armstrong High School where he met Dan Dowdin, and through him Dan’s sister and his future bride, Mary Jo Dowdin. He graduated in 1963, and attended Sacramento City College in 1964 and 1965. Marty was drafted into the Army in 1966. He married Mary Jo in 1968 and started his service in Vietnam that same year. Their children, Stephen, Matthew, and Kathleen (Katie), were born in 1968, 1970, and 1972.

After returning from Vietnam, Marty earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Sacramento State University in 1972, and an MBA from Golden Gate College in 1974, all while working and being an active father and husband. His early career included jobs at the California DMV, Department of Water Resources, and Catholic Charities.

In 1977, the family traveled to Ireland, meeting distant relatives and falling in love with the rural life of their Irish relations. Upon returning to California, Marty and Mary Jo decided to try rural living in Calaveras County, California, buying land in Mountain Ranch and building the family’s new home over four years. Marty was active in the community, serving in the volunteer fire department and working at Senders Market for 12years. After that, he changed careers, obtaining his teaching certificate and teaching at Mountain Ranch Community School for 8 years. 

In 2007, Marty retired, and he and Mary Jo relocated to Coquille, Oregon. They made great friends, including their wonderful neighbors, Lynn and Jo Dee Kindred. Lynn convinced Marty to join the local Sawdust Theater, learning soft shoe dancing, dressing up in outlandish outfits to the delight of his grandchildren, and eventually writing and directing productions along with Lynn. Marty joined the Kindred brothers (Gayle, Glenn, Lyle, and Lynn) on camping trips and other gatherings, becoming the honorary fifth Kindred brother. Marty started playing poker with many of his friends (Lynn, Tony, Fred, Ted, Darla, George, Ken and Scott), and among the ups and downs of winning came out ahead with strong friendships and great times playing varieties of poker often indecipherable to others who tried to join in. 

Marty met other dear friends playing golf at the Elks Club and through his love of classic cars, joining Dave, Frank, John, Rob, Joe and others at the local car repair shop/barbershop known as “the Slaughterhouse” and Graffiti Weekend in Roseburg each year. He beautifully restored a 1959 Chevy. He delighted in introducing his grandchildren to his passions, taking them to car shows and the shop to meet his friends; taking them rockhounding and volunteering to teach their classes about agates; organizing family trips to Lincoln City, the Olympic Peninsula, central Oregon, Dillon Beach, Hawaii, and Lake Tahoe; and fostering their love of performing by bringing them onstage at the Sawdust Theater.

Marty and Mary Jo loved to travel, and took memorable trips during their retirement, including to Ireland, Wales, and a veteran’s trip to Normandy, France. For recent trips, Marty’s sisters Genevieve and Nancy, along with Nancy’s husband Tim,joined for these trips and shared memorable experiences and lots of laughs.

Marty was able to celebrate his 80th birthday with family at a party hosted by his sister Nancy. When he experienced health issues in recent years, his daughter Katie flew to their home to help out, ultimately living with Marty and Mary Jo for Marty’s final months. She and Mary Jo helped keep him active and able to enjoy his friends, family, and hobbies for the remainder of his life. Marty passed early on Thanksgiving morning surrounded by family.

Marty is remembered for his warmth as he welcomed his children’s spouses into the family: Steve McConniel (Katie’s husband), Mary Larkin (Matt’s wife), and Whitney Meno (Stephen’s wife). Marty is survived by his wife, Mary Jo Brennan; his children Steve, Matt, and Katie; and his four grandchildren: Aidan, Kieran, Jasper and Griffin.

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