Maurice W. Brennen

My parents, Lyle and Hazel Glazier knew Maury well and I recall him as a child growing up in Salem. He was a wonderful organist like my own mother was.
My condolences.

"Mr. B."-
That's how I, as the 3 yr. old son of one of his students, was introduced. He was a great friend to my family, and I will always remember his great smile, sense of humor, wit, and love for a good single malt scotch. His love for music was a great influence on my own father, and me as well. If any place has great pipes, I'm sure Heaven is the place to find them. Mr. B will be playing there often!

I have been missing Maury's salty e-mail messages for the last couple of years. He was a fun e-mail correspondent who never failed to remember a birthday, and I was sad that the computer got to be too much for him. It had been fun to re-connect with him in his retirement. He even inspired one of my published compositions, and I know that pleased him.

Maury was not only my band director at WU, he was also my "boss" since part of my work study money was earned by being his secretary. ...

Dear Brennan family,
We were honored to get to know Maury on his visits to Redmond. He had an unforgettable personality and style. We appreciated his gentle touch with the doggies, his keen sense of humor, his love of life, his strong opinions, and his tenacity in remaining relevant and independent. He was always kind to us and we always enjoyed our time with him. We will truly miss him.
May good memories replace the sorrow you feel today and know that his quiet influence is...

Professor Brennen helped me, a "never had a lesson in my life" hopeful from Nebraska, to stay in university and achieve more than I dreamed.

He loaned me his string bass and included instruction on it at my tuba lessons so that I could play for dances instead of working nights at the cannery. He encouraged me, as my music theory instructor, to continue my struggle there because "my assignments were creative".
I think his personal caring and good humor influenced my career in...

I had the pleasure of playing in several of Maury’s groups after coming to Salem in 1964. He was nice enough to let this new young band director/trumpet player play in his brass quintet, and city summer band, and I got to play alongside of him in German bands, Salem Concert Band, Salem Symphony Orchestra, at his church, and in many other varieties of music with him.

He was fun to work with, and always had a joke or humorous word. In fact, I remember him saying he didn’t trust people...

Maury Brennan was one of the most influential faculty members during my four years at Willamette. He gave us inspiration to march in the mud for football games, cheer on basketball games and play for graduations and and concerts. I have such fond memories of my time at W.U. because of my time in Mr. Brennan's band.

Maury was like a dad to me, when I played in the Willamette Band and Brass Quintet in the 60's - 70's. He really helped me out, as my advisor. He gave me the same sort of good advice and guidance that my own dad would have. My own dad passed away just previous to my Freshman year at Willamette. Maury was there for me, just when I needed somebody like him the worst.

And every time we met up again, at one of those Alumni band gigs, he remembered me, and greeted me, and always made it...

It was an honor to be in band with "Mr. B." all 4 years I was at Willamette during the 1970's. Mr. Brennen was also the director at WU when my high school band teacher (Dr. David Beier) was at Willamette in the 60's. I enjoyed meeting Sherry and sitting next to her in the flute section when she joined us for band at WU one year. Our prayers for your family. I know Mr. B. touched many lives.