Joseph Vincent Breen

1947 - 2023

Joseph Vincent Breen

November 7, 1947 - December 21, 2023

Carmichael, California - Joseph (Joe) Breen age 76, passed away after a brief illness on December 21, 2023 in Sacramento, California.

Joe was born in the Germantown section of Philadelphia in 1947 to Joseph Breen Sr. and Mary Carpenter. He attended St. Vincent DePaul grammar school and Cardinal Dougherty High School in Philadelphia before relocating with his family to Sacramento in the 1960's. Joe graduated from Mira Loma High School and attended both American River College and California State University at Sacramento where he received his bachelor's degree in electrical engineering. He went on to be one of only a few civilians to be accepted to the Masters of Electrical Engineering program at the United States Air Force Institute of Technology at Wright Patterson AFB in Dayton, Ohio. Joe received his MSEE degree and returned to work at McClellan AFB in North Highlands until his retirement.

In addition to his long-time work as an electrical engineer in the federal sector, Joe had several successful businesses designing computer peripherals just as the personal computer revolution took off. Joe had myriad interests including a lifelong passion in aviation that led him to obtain his private pilot's license in his teens. He completed several coast-to-coast flights in a Cessna 150, all before planes were equipped with GPS and modern directional equipment. Additional hobbies included scuba diving, skiing and communicating worldwide as a ham radio operator.

Joe met Beverly Braninburg in 1976 and they were married in 1982 in Sacramento, settling in Carmichael. Joe and Bev raised three devoted children, Stephen (Kristen) Breen, Michael Breen, and Jennifer Breen Anderson (Aaron). Joe loved his grand- children, Ebin, Gwen, Max, Nolan, and Spencer, all of whom were a great source of joy and he would light up during their frequent visits. Joe also leaves his siblings Stephen, Alison and Roseanne. Joe was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Mary Jane.

Meeting Joe and engaging in even the shortest of conversations, one was struck by his wit, encyclopedic knowledge of an amazing array of subjects, and his ability to relate to everyone on their own terms. Joe's perennial optimism and genuine caring for family and friends will be greatly missed.