Brennan Newsom

Brennan John Newsom 2/25/38 - 11/11/10 Brennan John Newsom passed peacefully on November 11, 2010, after a long illness. The fourth of six children born to William A. and Christine Newsom, Brennan grew up an Irish Catholic in San Francisco's Marina District, attending Ecole Notre Dame Des Victoires and St. Ignatius College Prep. He spent two years at Novitiate of the Sacred Heart, a Jesuit seminary, before attending the University of San Francisco, followed by law school at George Washington University and San Francisco Law School. A boxer, a sportsman, a lover of nature, a trial attorney, an ardent democrat, a humanist; throughout his life, Brennan was a fighter and a fierce advocate for those without a voice. His clients became his friends, and his friends, clients. He always stood up for what he believed in, and zealously defended those for whom he cared. Brennan had a wit, energy and effervescence that brightened any room he entered. He could start conversations and make friends with alarming ease. An intellectual, a student of history, of poetry and of prose, Brennan was not just well read, but eager to discuss most any topic, from Russian military history to the poetry of Valery. His life, however, was best defined by his devotion to family. He relished the holidays, often making three or four stops in a day to celebrate with as many family members as possible. He was especially fond of his grand-nieces and -nephews, and madly in love with his grandchildren Grace and Owen. He was incapable of passing a baby without stopping to talk, make faces and lavish compliments. Brennan is survived by his children, Jennifer, Brennan, Eric, William, Chloe and daughter-in-law Kathleen; a devoted older brother, Bill; a caring ex-wife, Franza; his grandchildren Grace and Owen; and countless nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. He was pre-deceased by his first wife Patsy and by his siblings Carole, Barbara, Sharon and Patrick. He will be missed his friends, family and the hundreds of other people whose lives he touched. A memorial mass will be held on Friday, November 19, at 1:30 p.m. at Notre Dame Des Victoires, 566 Bush Street, San Francisco. Memorial contributions can be made to the Cancer Research Institute. http://www.cancerresearch.org/give/memorial.html Monte's Chapel of the Hills San Anselmo 415-453-8440