Dave Brennan, age 79, of Plano, Texas, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his family on November 1, 2017. Heaven is now richer with its kind, funny, focused, music-loving angel.
Dave was born in Philadelphia on May 14, 1938, to two Irish immigrant parents, Michael Francis and Bridget (Converoy) Brennan. His childhood stories include an entrepreneurial little red wagon business to help the local ladies with their groceries, picking wild blueberries, his career as a golf caddy, visits to the Jersey shore, playing cards, listening to his dad play music, and learning to be orderly and financially disciplined from his mom. The recipe for his life was set even back then.
He attended West Catholic High School and began his career at State Farm Insurance Company, where he met the love and inspiration of his life, Sandy. Dave and Sandra Mary Richards were married on October 29, 1960, in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania. They chose early on to dedicate their time and resources to sending Dave to college. After eight years of night school, Dave graduated from St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia with a double degree in business and philosophy. He worked briefly for Citgo, and then joined the tax department of Mobil Oil Corporation. That position took his family to Los Angeles, which became his spiritual home. He loved that he could see mountains and sea, snow and salt water, all on the same day. The position with Mobil then brought his family to Dallas in 1979, a time when their new neighborhood was still mostly fields of sunflowers.
After 25 years in corporate life, Dave began Brennan Financial Services in 1983, which he helmed for nearly 35 years. As one of his clients told us, “It just never seemed like work to him.” Dave hosted “Dollars and Sense” on radio stations including KLIF-AM, WBAP-AM, and KRLD-AM for more than 25 years. Listening to this live call-in radio program was a Saturday morning tradition for thousands of families from Central Texas to Oklahoma. Known as “the voice of financial planning,” Dave brought a common sense approach to helping people with their money. He also hosted the live call-in television program “Smart Money Live with the Brennans” with his children on WFAA-TV for two years, and wrote the financial planning book, “Wishing Won’t Do It.” Dave was honored with many awards over his career, including Entrepreneur of the Year from his alma mater.
Dave loved to help others. This was evident in how he built his business, how he entertained people with his jokes and music on and off the radio, and how he shared his good fortune. He was just as likely to make a donation with Sandy to a hospital or his alma mater as he was to quietly send a check to a local family that he learned was in need. Dave and Sandy have provided support to many organizations, including St. Joseph’s University, the University of Dallas, Baylor Medical Center, Children’s Medical Center, Presbyterian Hospital of Plano, Dallas Children’s Advocacy Center, Star Children’s Charity, Catholic Charities, Dallas Symphony Pops Orchestra, Habitat for Humanity, and the Notre Dame School.
Dave’s loves were Sandy and his children and grandchildren, music, golf, travel, and America. He traveled to Asia and throughout North America and Europe, each time returning home to the country he loved. He appreciated that America has unlimited opportunity and freedom, and believed that all Americans should be enthusiastic patriots.
A pillar of strength and goodwill in the community, many sought him for counsel in life situations. He mentored those around him, often sharing his life lessons, his thoughts on the importance of family, laughter, education, hard work, and dreaming bigger than you can imagine, then following that dream with every ounce of your being. If you feel a bit of silent encouragement, a voice that tells you that you really can do it, think of Dave Brennan. We will be doing the same.
Dave is survived by his true love, Sandy, of Plano, Texas. He also leaves behind his adoring children, each of whom is sure they are his favorite. Michelle Brennan Hall and her husband Jeff Hall, of Frisco, Texas, along with sons Cameron and Peyton will remember the music he made in so many ways, especially through his gifts of a saxophone and his own guitar. David Brennan, Jr., of Keller, Texas, celebrates his dad as his best friend, and daughters Alexandra and Alison will remember Pop-Pop’s jokes and debating subjects with him. Darren Brennan of Allen, Texas, is grateful that he had the gift of so many years working right next to his dad, and he and wife Tanya Brennan will treasure the time they spent with him in Colorado. Debra Brennan Tagg of Dallas, Texas, will carry with her the gift of confidence that comes from her dad telling her she could be whatever she wanted to be, and her husband, Paul Tagg, and their children Harper and Liam promise to retell Pop-Pop’s jokes and relive the fabulous adventures they experienced with him. Dave is also survived by his sister, Mary Helen Inforzato, and husband, Robert, of Pennsylvania.
To help us celebrate his life, please say a prayer, help your fellow man, or do something nice for your community or country.
We welcome flowers, or gifts in memory and celebration of Dave Brennan directed to the following programs:
Children’s Medical Center Foundation
2777 Stemmons Freeway, Ste. 700, Dallas, TX 75207
*Gifts in memory of Dave will be designated to Patient and Family Services, which supports the play room which Dave and Sandy donated to the Plano campus of Children's.
UT Southwestern Medical Center
P.O. Box 910888, Dallas, TX 75391-0888
*Gifts in memory of Dave will be designated to support Multiple Myeloma Research.
A funeral mass will be held at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, November 9, 2017, at All Saints Catholic Church, 5231 Meadowcreek Drive, Dallas, Texas, 75248. The family will receive friends during a visitation from 5:00 – 8:00 p.m., Wednesday evening, November 8, 2017, at Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Funeral Home in Allen, Texas with a Celebration of Life service beginning at 5:30 p.m.