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BORN
1934
DIED
2024
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Albert Brecken Obituary
Albert was born October 31, 1934. He attended New Lebanon School, Sacred Heart School, and Don Bosco Catholic School. He later attended technical school and became an electrician, which he did for more than six decades. After his retirement, he briefly worked full-time for the Town of Greenwich Sewer Plant.
He joined the Army during the Korean War, did basic training at Fort Bragg. He remained stateside. In the 1970's he was a volunteer for the Port Chester Fire Department.
He was a regular at the Greenwich Library. He loved trains, and in 2016 he created a display of antique train information that was showcased at the Greenwich Library.
He is survived by many close friends. He never married and outlived his long-term girlfriend Sonja Smith who passed in 2014. He is survived by his niece Joan Reynolds.
Mr. Brecken, 89, passed away peacefully in his sleep on Jan. 15, 2024, a private service was held at Sacred Heart Church.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Albert Brecken
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4 Entries
Bob
May 16, 2024
I had the good fortune of meeting Al at the library. He used to come over and watch some chess games, and would occasionally ask why this move and not that move. The simple answer is I messed up.
But from those games came walks at various parks to picnics at Grass Island and numerous conversations about everything under the sun. He was a wealth of knowledge, who still maintained intellectual curiosity.
I (we) miss you daily. Thanks for everything.
Bob
Lee Baker
May 15, 2024
Al was a dear friend for more than 25 years. We spent practically every holiday together. He was a wise soul who gave sage advice. His friendship was a continuous source of comfort for me. He loved to host parties and together we held many a "soiree" as he like to call them. Politically we were at opposite ends of the spectrum, he liked to say he was a "fascist" in jest, but I always enjoyed his take on the events of the day.
He was the master of appreciation, he would have bursts of vocal gratitude at the most commonplace of things: a beautiful day, a "splendid " meal, or a small gathering that was successful. His appreciation of life, his gratitude, always made me happy. For instance we would be eating take-out by the water and he would say with the utmost exuberance, "Lee, aren't we living large, aren't we so fortunate!" His appreciation was contagious!
He loved animals and he was very gentle with them. I loved that he always remembered to say hello to Molly my dog, to show her that she was important too. I will miss my dear friend Al, forever.
Alain
May 15, 2024
With your passing you call on us to remember the wonder of each day!As the sun sets on your life,we know it will rise in our memory of you.May God bless you and rest in peace. Your friend Alain.
John Twomey
May 14, 2024
Albert and I talked about a lot of stuff at the library. He was interested in trains. I shared with him some of my experiences on the Main Line tracks of the Pennsylvania RR between Philadelphia and Paoli..the Paoli Local. He knew that was an electric branch, and was delighted to find out all he could about my visits to the Bryn Mawr Switch Station. I used to sit up with the man there as he showed and explained the different colored lights on the old pre-computer rail switching board. His view up and down the line from an overhanging window in front of his desk was something you'd see in old movies.
Albert also wanted to hear the places I'd been. American cities, foreign cities...did I ride this or that kind of train in my travels. Sometimes he'd ask me a technical train question and I'd shrug.
We both liked history. We disagreed on the values of certain US Presidents from the past as often as we agreed on others.
One late autumn afternoon almost 20 years ago, my wife and I were walking on Oakland Beach. It was closed for the season, but it was a blue sky warm afternoon.
I noticed a lone man on a stretch of the deserted beach around the bend north of the life guard shed. I didn't know his name then, but I had seen him at the library in Greenwich. He stripped down to bathing trunks and ran toward the water. He jumped in full speed and swam, while we walked by on the upper part of the sand. After 10 minutes give or take, he walked out of the water, toweled off, put his dry clothes on over his wet trunks and sat down. He stared at the Sound. I turned to my wife and said "I seen that man at the library. I never thought I'd see him swimming here."
When I got to know him, I asked him if he ever swam at Oakland.
"Why do you ask?"
"Because I wanted to know if it was you I saw there a while back."
"John, you have a good memory. That was me four years ago."
I told him he looked like a young man the way he dashed into the water."
I think he liked hearing that.
Until we meet again,
I remain your friend, Al.
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