We are sad to announce the passing of former BellTel Board Chairman Jack Brennan. If you have memories of Jack that you would like to share, please comment down below.
The following is Jack’s obituary as seen from the Spring 2021 edition of the BellTel Newsletter:
Longtime Association Leader Jack Brennan Dies
John “Jack” Brennan, an early and longtime retiree leader who helped expand the presence and success of our Association of BellTel Retirees into a nationally prominent organization, passed away on February 5, 2021, due to complications from surgery.
Brennan, who hailed from the original New Jersey Bell territory, started with the company as a draftsman at age 17 in 1953. After turning 18, he spent the next nine years in outside craft, where he dealt with every function in that department from splicing to installation to repair to central office.
In 1963, he moved up in the company into first- and then second-level management positions, with responsibilities that included serving as the Presidential Coordinator in charge of communications when U.S. Presidents visited New Jersey.
He recalled how honored he was to represent the company in this role during visits by Lyndon B. Johnson and several trips by Richard M. Nixon.
In 1981, Brennan moved to human resources, where he worked on management job evaluation, salary administration and labor relations. He eventually retired in December 1991 as Labor Relations Manager for NJ Bell-Bell Atlantic-Verizon after 38 years of service.
In 1998 Jack, was among the retiree leaders from the Bell Atlantic side of the company to join together with NYNEX retiree leaders, to consolidate their collective volunteer advocacy efforts and begin growing what is today considered to be one of the largest and most respected retiree non-profits in the nation, your Association of BellTel Retirees.
In April 2003, after five active years on the BellTel board, Mr. Brennan was elected as the Association’s board chairman, a position he held for many years. Jack also served simultaneously as a leader of Protectseniors.org.
Upon Mr. Brennan’s election to the Chairmanship role, then Association president Bill Jones said, “Jack has made numerous important contributions to our Association over the past five years. Most notably was his leadership in bringing Bell Atlantic retirees into the Association following the merger of NYNEX and Bell Atlantic.”
Jack retired from service to the Association at the end of 2018, after an amazing 20 years. He was active in the Telephone Pioneers-HKK-ENG-HUDSON Life Member Group.
In the true spirit of service, Jack always held immense pride in the important goal and objective of the Association: the ongoing care, advocacy and protection of our fellow retirees and surviving spouses.
Jack is survived by his wonderful wife of 63 years, Annamae, two daughters, Sharon Slutzky and Tracy Lee Brennan, and son-in-law Paul Conte, along with four grandchildren.
The family has requested that, in lieu of flowers, donations can be sent in Jack’s memory to:
The Association of BellTel Retirees Inc, PO Box 33, Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724.
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