Richard Jay Brennan

Obituary

Richard Jay Brennan (Rick) peacefully passed away in hospital care in Tampa, FL, on Saturday, August 1st, 2026. Throughout his life, he was the devoted husband of the late Irene Brennan, who passed away in 2003, & later found happiness again with his surviving wife, Patricia McHenry-Brennan who he married in 2009. He was a proud & caring father to three wonderful children: Richard Jr., Stephanie, and Daniel.

Rick was born on March 20th, 1956, in Staten Island, NY. He was the son of the late Shirley & Sam DeCicco. Driven by a heartfelt desire to serve his country, he joined the United States Coast Guard in 1975. After basic training, his first duty station was at Small Boat Station Menemsha on Martha’s Vineyard, MA, where he met his soon-to-be wife, Irene Lee (Jardin) Brennan. They were happily married on February 7th, 1981, & spent 22 years together until her passing on February 7th, 2003. The military life can be challenging, but Irene’s unwavering support helped her manage many moves and keep their home filled with love, while Rick dedicated nearly 33 years of distinguished service, retiring as a Chief Warrant Officer 4 & awarded the Coast Guard Meritorious Service Medal among numerous other personal awards. His service included several ship deployments & many significant leadership roles. Throughout his career, Rick formed lifelong friendships spanning from Puerto Rico to Lockport, NY, & left a lasting positive impression on everyone he met. His final stop landed in Tampa, FL, with his surviving wife, Patty, of nearly 18 years. He witnessed his two sons, Rich Jr. & Dan, follow in his footsteps & become loving husbands, fathers, & climb the ranks of the U.S. Coast Guard to become distinguished officers themselves, & his daughter Stephanie grow into an incredible woman, devoted wife, & mother in her own right; his devotion to his wife, children, family, & nation was truly unconditional.

He is survived by his wife, Patty; three children, Rich, Steph, and Dan; two stepchildren, Jenn & Joey; his nine grandchildren, Taylor, Makenzie, Sophia, Richie, Daniel Jr., Alena, Samantha, Emily, & Olivia; & his sister, Lisa.