Life Center

Brennan Michael O’Malley

Brennan Michael O’Malley, 64, died on New Year’s Eve, Dec 31, 2024, at home in Kentfield, Marin County, CA. He was born on April 13, 1960, 8:24 pm, at Mercy Hospital, Sacramento, CA. He was baptized on May 8, 1960, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Sacramento, CA. Brennan was the fifth child from the eldest of nine children of Captain

Charles Aloysius and Patricia Jean O’Malley, USN. He is preceded in death by both his parents; his oldest brother, Terence Earl O’Malley, USN; and his oldest sister, infant Kathleen Rose O’Malley.

Brennan was previously married to Betsy (O’Malley) Romero. They had one child, Michael Brennan O’Malley (Mick), born 13 May 1992. Following his graduation from St. Thomas Aquinas High School, San Bernardino, CA, he pursued studies in Business Administration. On 16 June 1984, he was awarded Bachelor of Arts, Administration, from California State University, San Bernardino, CA.

Throughout his professional career, Brennan was dedicated to serving people. Following university graduation, he worked in restaurant management at the Chart House, Monterey, CA. He expanded to hotel management as a Director of Personnel for the Maui Marriott Resort, Hawaii, 1995-2006. His management career included

home improvement and design services, including Loews Home Improvement, Redlands, CA. He returned to the hotel spotlight as a Human Resources Manager at Marin Suites Hotel, OLS Hotels and Resorts.

He was motivated by the people he worked with and by the people he served. As a grateful Naval officer’s son and the brother of those who served, he was proud of his family’s military service. He shared stories of their service in the armed forces with others. After Desert Storm, he asked his sister for a photo in her military uniform. At Loews, he created a wall of portraits to honor our combat veterans. Honoring his family, he put his father’s photo, his brothers photos, and his sister’s photo on that wall. He cared about them, and all of our nation’s veterans. He took the time to proudly stand beside them at military events.

While at St. Thomas Aquinas High School, Brennan excelled in sports, including football, swimming, skiing and surfing. He was dedicated to preserving nature and marine life conservation. Caring for his mother’s home, he enhanced her landscaping with natural shrubs and plants.

Brennan shared times when his faith was tested. As an avid surfer, on one occasion he recalled riding a wave in Monterey. He looked down from his board and saw a fin. Usually it was a dolphin, but this one was different. It was a shark following beside him on his board. He felt that faith kept him on that board. In another instance, a rip tide suddenly took him past the wave break. He said when he looked around, he could not see land in any direction. Lost and alone, he felt guided to paddle in the direction he thought he came from. His faith in God kept him on that board. His faith helped him find that shoreline.

It was important to him to take care of his family, to inspire others. His brother, Patrick, shared that he helped shape his future music tastes as a child, taking him to the music store. His brother, Sean, said in high school Brennan gave him a Cal Poly Pomona flyer. It was for the major ‘Landscape Architecture.’ Because he cared, he gave Sean an insight to his future career.

In a large family, he reached out to help with finances. He assisted his brother, Sean, with employment at Lake Gregory, and recommended his niece, Kathy, for a position at the Marriott. Later in life, his mother was frequently hospitalized. Brennan once answered his sister’s early morning update with Mom from the ER. His words said only ‘Stay the course.’ When all seemed lost, he relied on faith.

Family Members:

Son: Michael Brennan O’Malley (Mick)

Siblings: Margaret Mary O’Malley, TSgt, USAF, Ret, and Philip Bryan Oglesby, Major, USAF, Ret; Timothy Charles; Sean Patrick and Sylvia Gutierrez; Dr. Kevin Dermit and Rosemary Carlin O’Malley, PhD; Dennis Joseph; Patrick Daniel and Nicholas.

Nephews, Nieces: Officer Manuel Richard Diaz; Kathleen Rose and Philip Mark; Elena Antonia and Johnny Vance; Charlie Frances; Henry Travers; Andrea Marie; Olivia Jean; Grace Amelia; Megan Marie and Sean; CPT John Carlin and Lauren Virginia O’Malley,

US Army; Cadet Patrick Charles O’Malley, US Army; Ryan Fitzgerald.

Great Nephews, Nieces: Deputy Sheriff Manuel Richard and Paige Nicole Diaz; Marquez Lee Diaz and Ashlie Ciara Barber; Pandora Rose; Nadia Faelyn; Bella Sharlat.

Great-great (Nephews, Nieces): Manuel Richard (JJ); Rylan Matthew; Jax Miguel; Kohen Eugene; Marquez Lee, Jr.

Nieces and nephews of: Alger and Nancy Abraham

Nieces and nephews of: George and Catherine Johnston

James and Ruth (O’Malley) Kaliszewski

Family of: SMSgt Andrzej & Claire Biafora Sleboda, USAF

Brennan spent an entire career with many outstanding accomplishments, dedicated to the service of others. But he always felt his single greatest accomplishment was his son, Michael Brennan O’Malley (Mick.) Mick was born on May 13, 1992, and baptized on July 5, 1992, at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church, San Clemente, CA. At

Brennan’s Funeral Mass, Mick will stand in the same place his parents stood thirty three years ago.

Every conversation, every smile was about his son. At the end of Brennan’s life, Mick called his father everyday. They are connected in a lifelong legacy of faith, hope and love.

Throughout his career, Brennan devoted his professional life to the service of others in the community. His son, Michael Brennan O’Malley (Mick), would like to invite all of the community he served to Brennan’s funeral and burial.

Brennan O’Malley - Guest Book

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