John "Jack" Brennan, Dvm

John “Jack” Joseph Brennan, DVM, September 12th, 1929 – January 18th 2024.

John “Jack” Joseph Brennan—husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, veterinarian, mentor and community supporter—peacefully left this world at age 94 on Thursday the 18th of January 2024, having been surrounded by family and friends for several days.

Jack was born in the Bronx, the son of Agnes Edna Keogh (“Edna”), a homemaker and accountant and John “Jack” J. Brennan Sr., a New York City police officer.  In the early 1940’s Jack’s parents, deciding that Putnam County would be a better place to raise their son, moved to Peach Lake, NY, an hour north of the City.  Jack attended Purdys Central High School, playing football and basketball, and graduating with his 12 other classmates in 1947.  He earned a NY State Regents Scholarship, enabling him to go to college, the first in his family to do so.

Jack entered Cornell University in the fall of 1947 and graduated in 1952 as a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine.  Jack’s (and his wife Mary’s) devotion and service to Cornell was lifelong.  Jack served on the University Council, was president of the Alumni Association Executive Board and received the Frank T. Rhodes distinguished service award.  In his later years, there was not a day when Jack didn’t sport some kind of Cornell-themed element of clothing, whether a hat, pin, shirt or coat.  Jack was all in!

During his senior year at Cornell, Jack attended a Pi Beta Phi event and met and became enamored of one Mary Louisa Shear.  They became engaged upon graduation and were married in 1953, thus beginning a loving 64-year marriage.

After graduating from Cornell, Jack fulfilled his Air Force ROTC requirement with a two-year assignment at Craig Air Force base in Alabama.  He was honorably discharged in 1954 as a 1st Lieutenant, having successfully kept the Air Force food supply safe, and in the process honed his golfing skills with daily visits to the Clark Airforce base golf course.

After their stint in Alabama, Jack and Mary decided to return to Mary’s roots in Albany County, NY to establish their own veterinary practice, Guilderland Animal Hospital.  Jack was appointed Albany County Veterinarian, responsible for ensuring dairy herds were disease free. The practice grew rapidly, and Jack soon hired another Cornell vet school graduate, James Breitenstein, who became a partner in the practice in 1967.  Together Jack and Jim, and later adding Michael Casler to the partnership, grew the practice to 8 veterinarians in 2 locations, becoming a community resource to dog and cat owners as well as local dairy farmers and horse owners.

Towards the end of his career, Jack also was appointed track veterinarian for the Saratoga Raceway, ensuring the safety and ethics of horse racing at that storied venue.  Jack not only loved caring for his animals, but also for their owners, knowing that a human connection was a key element of his practice.  He also loved mentoring his staff, many of whom have gone on to become veterinarians with their own practices.

Upon settling in Guilderland, Jack and Mary raised a family, adding Peter (Beth) (living in Ithaca), John (Jean) (living in Alameda, CA) and Mary Ann (living in Albany) to the fold.  They all enjoyed the times when Dad would go on farm calls and invite them to ride along, enabling Jack to proudly show off his children to his clients, but also giving him a captive audience to instill life lessons (not to mention the biological lessons they all learned watching calves being born!).

Jack was a dedicated father, attending almost all his kids’ concerts, football games, wrestling meets, soccer games and ski meets (having helped found the Guilderland High School ski team so his daughter could compete!).  Then, with Mary, putting them through college, helping them through grad school, supporting them through life’s triumphs and challenges and seeing them achieve prominence in their fields of endeavor.

Throughout his life, Jack contributed mightily to the vibrancy of his community.  He served as Kiwanis club president for two years; he was president of the New York State Association of the Professions; he chaired the Examining Board for Veterinary Medicine Licensure in New York State; he was president, founder and chief cheerleader of the Guilderland High School Football Booster’s club (Go Dutchmen!), and he was elected to the Guilderland Public Library board.

Jack also loved to write.  When James Herriot (whom he met on a trip to Yorkshire) published All Creatures Great and Small, Jack was inspired to share his own experiences as a country veterinarian in rural Albany County.  In 2010 he published This Vet has Tales, telling about his career in his own hills and dales, including times he was paid in eggs and butter, and once with two piglets!

Jack and Mary were fortunate enough to enjoy a camp on Upper Saranac Lake, which became a mecca for family gatherings, especially with his grandkids.  He took immense pleasure in their lives—Tom (Margaux), Mike (Michelle), Joe (Jillian), Patrick (Sierra), Kathleen (James) and Julia and his five great-grandkids, Henry, Caroline, Anabelle, Louis and Irene.  Jack was also proud of and took great joy in his Irish heritage, traveling to Ireland twice to trace his roots in Sligo, Ballysumaghen, Oughteraard, and many other storied locales across the Emerald Isle, humming “Brennan on the Moor” in the process!

Jack and Mary were married for 64 years, enjoying not only a rich family and community life, but also traveling to 5 continents and 44 countries.  Mary passed in 2017, succumbing to Alzheimer’s, with Jack expressing his love and devotion in his role as Mary’s primary caregiver.

After this, Jack was fortunate enough to form a second relationship.  Jean Melby (whose husband Ed was a Cornell veterinary school contemporary of Jack’s, and who also succumbed to Alzheimer’s) and Jack connected after Mary’s passing.  This was a true gift to both of them, bringing purpose, companionship and love to their lives for nearly five years until Jean passed in February of 2023.

Jack stayed very active until the end, golfing with his links buddies and socializing with many long-time friends into his early 90’s.  We want to thank the many friends who visited, called, wrote and emailed him in his last few weeks to express their support and love.  We also want to express our profound thanks to the care team that supported him as he grew older, Yvonne and Mercedes, and very especially Eugenia and Eva.  They were not only capable and professional, but also loving in their devotion to his physical, emotional and spiritual well-being.  We also wish to thank the excellent staff at Eddy Village Green Cohoes and hospice of the Capital District for their attentive care for Jack and our family in his final days.

Jack is survived by his three children and their spouses, his six grandchildren and their spouses, his five great grandchildren, and his numerous friends.  We will hold a celebration of Jack’s wonderful life later this spring.  If you wish to honor Jack, please consider a contribution to the John J. Brennan Sr./John J. Brennan Jr. DVM Scholarship, Cornell College of Veterinary Medicine, Box 37334, Boone, IA 50037 (the school is in Ithaca, but the processing center is in Iowa!), or a gift to the Guilderland Public Library, 2228 Western Avenue, Guilderland, NY 12084. Arrangements by DeMarco Stone Funeral Home, Guilderland. Condolences can be posted at demarcostonefuneralhome.com.