Richard S. "Dick" Brennan

Brennan, Richard S. "Dick" Of Chicago and formerly Lake Forest. Died peacefully on October 10 after a brief illness. He is survived by his wife, Jill; children, George (Susan), Joseph (Molly) and Sophie (Jon Carlisle); and grandchildren, Patrick, Joy, William and Edward Brennan, and Lucy and Henry Carlisle. Mr. Brennan, the only child of Anna Pearl and Clarence R. Brennan, was born March 18, 1938 in East St. Louis, Mo., and raised in Shorewood, Wis. He received his undergraduate degree in English and Fine Arts from Princeton University, where he was a member of the Cottage Club, and his JD from the University of Michigan. He and Jill (nee Wilson) were married in 1963, and soon after he began his law career at Shearman & Sterling in New York City. He returned to the Midwest to join Mayer, Friedlich, Spiess, Tierney, Brown & Platt in Chicago (now known as Mayer Brown LLD) in 1965 and would remain with the firm for the greater part of his career, specializing in oil and gas financing and international banking. In 1969, Mr. Brennan and his young family moved to France, where he spent three years with the Paris office of Mayer Brown. In 1974, he was asked to return to Europe and establish a practice for Mayer Brown in London. Mr. Brennan remained in England with his family until 1977, after which the family returned to the Chicago area and made their home in Lake Forest. Mr. Brennan's career included tenure as General Counsel of Continental Bank from 1982 to 1988, guiding the bank through its acquisition by Bank of America. He also served as General Counsel of Case Corporation in Racine, Wis., and of Stepan Chemical in Northfield, Ill. Mr. Brennan was a man respected and admired by all for his ready smile, generosity and intelligence. He loved city life, the Lyric Opera and sailing on Lake Michigan as much as he treasured the restorative quiet of the family's home in Amboy, Ill. A memorial service will be held at St. Pauls United Church of Christ (2335 N. Orchard, Chicago) on Friday, October 26, 2012 at 4 PM. The service will be followed by a celebration of Mr. Brennan's life at the Chicago Yacht Club, Monroe Harbor Station. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Lurie Children's Hospital (formerly Children's Memorial Hospital).