Thomas C. Brennan

Thomas Brennan, age 90, passed away peacefully on October 12, 2023, at the Michigan Veteran Homes at Chesterfield Township where he had resided for the past year with his beloved wife Phyllis. “Coach”, as he liked to be called, was a native of Syracuse, New York. Coach Tom earned his bachelor’s, master’s, and certificate of advanced study degrees from Syracuse University after serving honorably in the U.S. Navy in the Korean War. He played varsity basketball for Syracuse University, but golf was his real passion. When he was only five years old, he was featured in the Syracuse Herald newspaper as a “promising” young golfer. He fulfilled that promise by running a very successful golf program at Oswego State University for 27 years where he was an Associate Professor. He had 11 consecutive SUNY Athletic Conference Golf Team Championships and 15 straight NCAA Division III Golf Championship appearances winning 286 matches and losing only 31. He also coached nine NCAA Golf All-Americans, including 1978 NCAA Division III Individual Champion Jim Quinn ’79 and PGA pro golfer Wayne Levi ’74. After his retirement from Oswego State in 1989, Tom and Phyllis moved to Myrtle Beach, often considered “the Golf Capital of the World.” There he taught for another 10 years in the Pro Golf Management School at Coastal Carolina College and coached the men’s and women’s golf teams. He also directed the Myrtle Beach Junior Golf Program during that time. After retiring from Coastal Carolina, he taught at Carolina Golf Academy for eight years. Tom was recognized in 1997 for his many accomplishments by being named to the Golf Coaches Association of America Hall of Fame. Tom is survived by his wife, Phyllis Humphreys Brennan, along with his two sons, Scott Brennan of Cazenovia, NY and Terry Brennan of Syracuse, NY, a stepson, Jac (Elizabeth) Humphreys of North Myrtle Beach, SC, and a stepdaughter, Jan (Sean) Stannard of Clarkston, MI. He was a loving grandfather to Ava Brennan of Boston, MA, Evan Brennan of Charleston, SC, Erin Brennan and Ryan Brennan of Syracuse, NY, to his step-grandchild Blaine (Corinne) Stannard of Long Island City, NY, and his greatgrandchildren Dave, Emerson, and Nora Brennan all of Syracuse, NY. Tom was an only child and was preceded in death by his parents, Howard and Kathryn Brennan. Coach Tom made a lasting impact on so many lives and he will be greatly missed. Memorial donations in his honor may be made to the Michigan Veteran Homes at Chesterfield Township. Arrangements in care of Jowett Funeral Home-57737 Gratiot, New Haven.

Thomas C. Brennan

September 28, 1933 - October 12, 2023