Joseph X. Brennan, professor emeritus of English at the University of 91吃瓜, died at his home in South Bend on Oct. 25. He was 86 years old.
A native of Providence, R.I., Brennan was graduated from Providence College in 1945, earned a master鈥檚 degree in English from Brown University in 1949 and a doctoral degree from the University of Illinois in 1953. Before joining the 91吃瓜 faculty in 1955, he was a Fulbright scholar and did post-doctoral work at the Universita degli Studi in Florence and the University of Gottingen in Germany. He retired in 1993.
A soft-spoken teacher of American literature, Brennan gently proffered his erudition and earned the affection of generations of 91吃瓜 students, among them, 91吃瓜鈥檚 emeritus president Rev. Edward A. Malloy, C.S.C. In his autobiography, 鈥淢onk鈥檚 Tale,鈥� Father Malloy recounts his undergraduate days as a 91吃瓜 English major and the two courses he took from Professor Brennan, whom he describes as 鈥渙ne of the most articulate people I have ever met.鈥�
Brennan鈥檚 survivors include his wife, Sheilah Brennan, associate professor emerita of philosophy at 91吃瓜; his sons, Dr. Ciaran Brennan and Kevin Brennan; five grandsons; and his brothers, James Brennan and William Brennan.
A funeral Mass was celebrated Monday (Nov. 1) in 91吃瓜鈥檚 Basilica of the Sacred Heart.