Dr. James Robert Brennan of Marlborough and previously Bridgewater, MA died March 21, 2026, at 95 years old in Worcester, MA surrounded by his family.

Jim was born November 14, 1930 in Crawfordsville, IN to Martha Elizabeth (Truax) and James Edward Brennan. His family moved to Norfolk, VA where his parents both worked at the Norfolk Virginia Naval Shipyard during WWII. Jim was the first in his family to attend college, graduating from Virginia Tech a member of the Cadet Corps in 1951. Jim’s brother Bill followed him to VPI and they were both lifelong Hokie sports fans and proud members of the “Old Guard”. Jim was breveted a Second Lieutenant upon his graduation and was shortly thereafter deployed to Korea and served overseas with honor until 1953. During his deployment, Jim was awarded his Army First Lieutenant bars.

Following his service in the Korean War, Jim married his college sweetheart Jean Gardner in Hampton, VA on December 28, 1953. Together they would raise seven children: Catherine Ann, James Patrick, Mary Ann, John Gordon, Thomas Robert, William Gardner, and Paul Edward.

Jim pursued his Ph.D. in biology/botany/plant morphology, first with his Masters of Science from Virginia Tech and then achieving his doctorate from the University of Maryland in May 1958. Jim’s first full-time teaching position was at Norwich University in Norwich, VT. Then in 1961 Jim joined the faculty of Bridgewater State College, where he would serve as Professor and later Chair of the Biology Department, Dean, and an Acting Vice President of Academic Affairs during his thirty seven years there. During Jim’s tenure at BSC, he was awarded the prestigious Dr. V. James DiNardo Award for Excellence in Teaching. He was particularly interested in genetics, pursuing the use of electron microscopy at Harvard and publishing an undergraduate textbook titled “Patterns of Human Heredity” in 1985. During his tenure he enjoyed two academic sabbaticals – Milton-Keynes, England and Canberra, Australia – where he taught and produced original academic work. Besides being a decorated member of the faculty and administration, Jim also joined with his students to demonstrate on campus for the end of the Vietnam War and later again for the right of academic faculty to collectively form a union. Jim retired to emeritus status in 1998, but he never lost his passion for teaching.

Jim and Jean’s home on Maple Ave in Bridgewater was a short walk from the campus and a frequent site for individual and group faculty gatherings before becoming the central gathering point for events with their growing family of children and grandchildren. Jim undertook much of the home improvement work there himself and he could be seen making car repairs in their driveway, including work on his old Ford Model A. Jim did not fear work or shy away from challenges. That persistent spirit certainly was an asset to him as Jim and Jean drove all seven children cross-country in 1969 and again in 1972 to attend academic forums on the West Coast. Both trips were taken with their 1969 Ford Econoline van (with manual steering, manual brakes, and a 3-speed column shifter) towing their well-loved pop-up trailer. The family camped overnight at National Parks along the way. Jim would later go on to work as a National Park Ranger during the summers, leading hikes and educating visitors as an interpretive ranger at Shenandoah National Park, Acadia National Park, and Boston’s Freedom Trail Park. Always the professor, his campfire shows (and accompanying slides) were known for their educational and entertainment value.

Jim was also a marathon runner, including qualifying and completing the Boston and New York City Marathons. Running with faculty and students at BSC, he built friendships and shared his passion, inspiring his son Paul - also an avid marathoner - and the next generation. Jim was also a wonderful watercolor painter, restorer of rush chairs, basket weaver, and square dancer. His academic pursuits in plant genetics introduced him to the world of daylily hybridization. Jim has numerous hybrids registered in the National Daylily Society, where he also served many roles including President, Chair of Registrations and Chair of Scientific Studies, Board of Directors, Policy Committee, and Editor of the Daylily Journal. In 2026, his work pioneering the brown coloring in daylilies was honored with the official registration of the “Jim Brennan” daylily. Jim’s passion for flower hybridization was shared with his son Pat, who successfully hybridized and grew daylilies and orchids in his greenhouses for many years. Jim and his wife Jean both loved to travel internationally, an interest they passed along to many of their children. Jim’s passions were abundant, but he gave his all to the things he loved. His work ethic, his curiosity and willingness to learn, and his competitive spirit are all traits celebrated as part of his legacy.

For the final decade or so of his life, Jim moved to Marlborough, MA to be close to Jean as she experienced worsening dementia. In classic Jim fashion, he spent much of this time researching and trying to understand the human brain as a means of processing what was happening to Jean.

Although he started out with almost no formal academic or financial backing, Jim imagined, created, developed and simply lived an unusually expansive and brilliant life; one full of accomplishments in every sphere that he entered. His work and his passions found ways to benefit us all in various ways. He was an inspiring, brilliant, gentle and lovely man who educated and led by example. A bit of a perfectionist, Jim believed to do something meant to do it right and to do it to the best of our abilities. Jim was also his own person, but he still invited others into his orbit to share his interests and then, perhaps, to debate with him in pursuit of shared growth and understanding. To enter Jim's world was its own reward, which he offered to many others, at many times, free of obligation. Certainly a life well-lived; he will be missed by all who were lucky enough to spend time with him.

Jim leaves six children: Cathy Lauwers and her husband Steve of Winchendon, MA, Pat Brennan and his wife Molly of Mount Jackson, VA, Mary Brennan Smith and her husband Alan of Franklin, MA, John Brennan of Oxnard, CA, Bill Brennan and his wife Cathy of Woodstock, VA, and Paul Brennan and his wife Diane of Sutton, MA. He also leaves nineteen grandchildren and twenty-seven great-grandchildren, who affectionately called him ‘Eehee’ after his signature laugh. Jim was the father of the late Tom Brennan, who is survived by his wife, Lisa of Bourne, MA, and was also predeceased by his grandson Thomas Lauwers and his brother John ‘Bill’ Brennan. A memorial and private burial will be held at a later date at the Massachusetts Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery and there are no calling hours. The family asks for all who knew Jim and have a story to share to please sign the online guestbook here. The family also wants to share their gratitude for the staff at New Horizons in Marlborough, Countryside Health Care and Rehab in Milford, and Rose Monahan Hospice in Worcester for their exceptional care. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Collins Funeral Home, 378 Lincoln Street, Marlborough. ln lieu of flowers or donations, the family asks that you think of Jim and take the opportunity to learn something new or pursue a personal passion today.