Corporal William John Brennan

William "Billy" J. Brennan, 57, passed away on Sunday, November 22, 2015. His loving family will receive relatives and friends at the Quinn-Hopping Funeral Home of Livingston, 145 E. Mt. Pleasant Ave. on Friday, November 27 from 2 until 9 PM. The funeral will be held on Saturday, November 28, at St. Philomena’s Church, 396 S. Livingston Ave., Livingston, where the Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 10 AM. Visitation in Florida will take place on Wednesday, December 2 from 5-7 PM at the Martin Funeral Home, Kanner Hwy in Stuart, FL. Funeral mass will be held on Wednesday, December 3 at St. Christopher’s Church, Hobe Sound, FL. Burial will take place at Fernhill Memorial Gardens in Stuart, FL.

On March 30, 1979, Bill began his 35 year association with the Livingston Police Department as a chanceman and was quickly appointed to the position of a full time police officer on November 1, 1980; he was promoted to the rank of Corporal in 1999. Throughout his years he was the consummate professional. He can be credited with the implementation of Project Lifesaver for the township of Livingston and was awarded numerous commendations and awards by both the Livingston Police and the NJ State PBA. Among them, he received the Essex County Valor Award in 1987, the Life Saving Award in 2001, and in 2009 he received the “Community Award” from the Livingston Chamber of Commerce for the implementation of Project Lifesaver. Bill grew up in Livingston, attended St. Philomena’s School, graduated from Seton Hall Prep in 1976, and attended Villanova University. He was also a member of the Emerald Society, the Friendly Sons of the Shillelagh, and the Livingston Knights of Columbus Council # 3533.

Bill was a member of the Essex/Union Auto Theft Task Force and the Emergency Services Unit. In 1997, he put his life on the line in an attempt to save fire victims and was hospitalized for smoke inhalation.

Bill was the State Delegate for PBA Local #263 and Essex County PBA Chairman for over 20 years, and in that time amassed a wealth of friends and knowledge that can never be duplicated. Corporal William J. Brennan, known for his uncanny way of remembering people’s names and faces, will be forever remembered by the many people he impacted and befriended.

Predeceased by his father, Robert, in 2006, he is survived by his loving daughter, Meghan; his beloved mother, Janet (Deinzer); his loving sister Carroll Ann Brennan and her husband William Carlson; loving nieces and nephews Sean, Brynn Cornwell and husband Alan, Clare, and Riley; and his beloved partner, Donna Fletcher.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Essex County PBA Conference “William J. Brennan Memorial Scholarship,” 549 Pompton Avenue, Suite 117, Cedar Grove, NJ 07009.