March 4, 2024
Michael A. Simons, Dean and John V. Brennan Professor of Law and Ethics, and the St. John’s Law community mourn the passing of John V. Brennan, an esteemed alumnus and consummate lawyer who animated the Vincentian mission of serving the greater good in all aspects of his life.
St. John’s became Brennan’s educational home when, as a young military veteran, he enrolled in the evening program at St. John’s College. As he built a career at United States Aviation Underwriters (USAU), the world’s largest aviation insurer, he returned to St. John’s and earned his J.D. Engaging his new knowledge and skills, and with a focus on products liability law, he rose through the corporate ranks at USAU to assume to the position of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, which he held until his retirement in 1994.
His professional responsibilities involved Brennan in numerous cases that received worldwide attention, including the tragedy of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland. With his depth of experience in the field, he served on the boards of several foundations addressing airline safety. For those efforts, he received the Federal Aviation Administration's Distinguished Service Medal and the Flight Safety Foundation’s Presidential Citation.
Outside his professional roles and pursuits, Brennan served the Catholic community as a member of the Board of Trustees of the influential Papal Foundation. With his family, he helped to establish The INN (Interfaith Nutrition Network) on Long Island. Back home at St. John’s, Brennan was the primary benefactor in building the St. Thomas More Church and was also a significant contributor to the creation of Carnesecca Arena.
Brennan’s generosity also extended to St. John’s Law, where he made a major gift that established the Brennan Family Scholarship Matching Program. Giving rise to 73 new scholarships, for a total increase of over $10 million in endowed scholarships, the initiative attracted many first-time donors and was a catalyst for doubling annual fundraising. At an event highlighting the scholarship program, Brennan’s son, John O. Brennan ‘90, offered heartfelt remarks on behalf of his parents, his sister, Mary Beth Brennan ‘99, and his aunt, Dorothy McCabe ‘82, stating, “St. John’s Law is in my family’s DNA.”
During his lifetime, Brennan’s selfless service received wide recognition. He was named a Steward of St. Peter and a Knight of the Holy Sepulchre, and, along with his entire family, he was received into the spiritual family of St. Vincent de Paul. Honoring Brennan’s commitment to the ideals of Vincentian education, St. John’s conferred upon him, honoris causa, the degree of Doctor of Laws and awarded him its Medal of Honor.
“John Brennan was a giant in the business, legal, and St. John’s campus communities,” Dean Simons says. “It’s been an honor to hold the position of John V. Brennan Professor of Law and Ethics, and it was an honor to get to know John. He had endless passion—for his family, his church, and for St. John’s (especially the basketball team!). He also loved the law and cared deeply about legal ethics. The chair in his name, devoted to law and ethics, is a wonderfully fitting and enduring legacy. May he rest in peace.”