Leo J. Brennan, 83, of Madison passed away peacefully on Jan. 9, surrounded by his loving family. He was born Aug. 28, 1934, and is survived by his wife of 61 years, Shirley Brennan; daughter Laurie Brennan and her partner Constance Calderaro of Barkhamstead; son Timothy Brennan and his wife Jennifer of Westerly, Rhode Island; and four grandchildren, Grace, Miles, Nora and Will Brennan. He was predeceased by son Leo J. Brennan III.
Leo was a lifelong employee of and retired in 1996 from Stanley Bostich Company of Clinton He was a historian of the American Revolutionary War period and dedicated most of his life to this passion.
Leo was an accomplished musician, a veteran fifer and member of many Fife and Drum Corps units, including the Sailing Masters of 1812 of Essex; Lancraft Fife & Drum Corps of North Haven; and most recently the Mattatuck Drum Band of Waterbury. In his day over the decades he donned the uniform and tri corner hat and marched in many a parade and performed on many a muster field to celebrate our national heritage. He traveled far and wide with the Fife and Drum Corps, up and down the East Coast, across America, and even performed in Ireland and Switzerland.
In addition to being a former member of the Company of Fifers & Drummers and the Madison Historical Society, Leo was a traveling sutler, or seller of colonial goods, for over half a century. He was a familiar sight, dressed in colonial uniform and encamped with his wares, at all the muster fields and battle re-enactment sites. Every drum corps or militia unit member knew if they needed something, from fifes to musket flints, Leo would have it.
Leo was an avid reader and collected a large library of books about the American Revolutionary War and the War of 1812. He was a familiar sight browsing shelves at the Book Barn and other local bookstores and a regular patron of the Madison Library, never missing his weekly trip to read the antiques publications. He enjoyed the company of the gang of regulars each morning at the Madison Coffee Shop and was a daily customer for years. At home he loved to follow the Boston Red Sox, the New England Patriots, and UConn Husky basketball, particularly the women’s program.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Madison Ambulance Corps, 9 Old State Highway 79, Madison CT 06443, which assisted Leo greatly in the past year.
Calling hours were held on Jan. 15 at Swan Funeral Home, 825 Boston Post Rd., Madison. A Mass of Christian burial was held on Jan. 16 in St. Margaret Church, 24 Academy St., Madison. Burial will follow in West Cemetery, Madison. For an online obituary or to sign the guest book, visit www.swanfuneralhomemadison.com.
