- Date Of Birth: August 1, 1931
- Date Of Death: November 15, 2021
- State: Wisconsin
Patrick Francis Brennan Jr., age 90 of Key Biscayne, FL, slipped away from us on November 15, 2021. Patrick was born and raised the son of Irish immigrants in Woodside, Queens, New York City, his father from County Sligo (Patrick Francis), mother from County Mayo (Mary Ellen nee Costello). Mr. Brennan was the eldest of four and worked at his father’s bars and restaurants / dance halls in NYC, Queens, and Catskill Mountains, NY. He was blessed with two separate marriages to two wonderful, loving women – Barbara M. Fleischman (Jersey City, NJ) married in 1958 (deceased 1991). The couple raised three sons in Evanston, IL. And Donna Knepper (Wisconsin Rapids, WI), married in 2019.
Upon graduating from De La Salle Institute in 1950, Brennan enlisted in the United States Navy and earned honorable discharge in 1954.
Brennan worked 36 years in the paper industry, retiring in December 1996 as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Consolidated Papers, Inc. Under his leadership Consolidated was one of the nation’s preeminent manufacturers of coated printing paper, supplying most of the leading magazines, journals and printing companies, and ranked on the Fortune 500 list of largest U.S. corporations. Mr. Brennan began his career as a paper merchant for Lindenmeyr Paper Co., based in New York City and Boston. He was recruited in 1963 by Consolidated Papers Inc. as a Merchant Sales Representative, completed Harvard’s Graduate School of Business, and was elected to the CPI Board of Directors. His experience as CEO of a major corporation was a valued asset in his role on several corporate boards of directors where he served as a respected sounding board on paper manufacturing, marketing, and utilization strategies. These positions included Hercules Corporation; Thiele Kaolin Company; Northland Cranberries Incorporated; and Valassis Corporation.
In the early 1990’s, Mr. Brennan also served as Chairman of the Ireland Chamber of Commerce in the United States and was awarded “Guest of Honor” at the 6th American Celtic Ball in NYC along with actors Liam Neeson and Hugh O’Brian. He also served as a member of the Board of Directors of the University of Minnesota School of Engineering & Paper; the Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce Association; and Chairman of the Printing and Writing Division of the American Forest & Paper Association. In 1997 he received the distinguished Executive of the Year Award from PIMA, the leading association for paper industry management.
Patrick enjoyed extensive travel throughout his career and in retirement, including an around the world excursion hosted by Time Incorporated. He is remembered by his family as a model for a wise and loving life. His intelligent, impish smile, love for the spoken word, wry sense of humor, and the songs in his heart and voice will bless us for the rest of our lives. Patrick had a gift for finding something to like in almost everyone he met. He will be dearly missed, and his memory will be cherished.
Patrick is survived by his beloved wife Donna; sons Sean Kathy), Peter (Julee), and Gerald; stepsons Kenny Donald and Benjamin (Kayla); grandchildren Patrick, Daniel, Barbara Lucy, and Nuala, and step grandchildren Malachi, Michala, Zacharia, Callie, Gavin, Kaden, Jaxon, Elsie.
In addition to his parents and first wife, Brennan is preceded in death by his brothers, Gerald, Edward, and Kevin.
The family would like to thank close, caring neighbors and friends, Fran Podvin, David Kumm, Dr. Scott Dickman and the nurses with Aspirus Health Care and Synergy Home Care for their professional and compassionate care.
