James McCallion Brennan

James McCallion Brennan, 51, of Middletown, CT, died on Tuesday, October 7th at Yale New Haven Hospital as the result of a brief illness. Jim was born on February 10th, 1974, to parents James F. Brennan and Kathleen McCallion Brennan, both of whom predeceased him. He is survived by his beloved children, McCallion (Mac) Spelas Brennan, 23, of Plainville, and Teghan Spelas Brennan, 19, of East Hampton, and their mother, Tina Spelas, with whom he shared many treasured years of family life; and by his sister and brother-in-law, Kerry Brennan and Eoin Healy, and niece Kathleen, of Cork, Ireland. Jimmy had a loving extended circle of aunts, uncles, and cousins on both the McCallion and Brennan sides of his family, and will be sadly missed by his friends and loved ones, including the Spelas family, Sebastiano (Subby) Scalora, who was a true and beloved friend to Jim throughout his life, and Cara MacDonald, whose partnership and presence brought him joy in recent years.

Jim grew up in Hartford and graduated from Bulkeley High School in 1992, going on to attend Merrimack College in North Andover, MA. He worked for many years on the Essex Steam Train and later as First Mate of the Mystique, on Lady Katharine Cruises on the Connecticut River, before earning his Captains License and taking up work at Harborside Marina in Clinton. Jim’s work saw him piloting vessels across Long Island Sound and along the Atlantic Northeast coastline, and he spent many happy hours enjoying the peaceful solitude and closeness to nature that he found on the water.

A lifelong hockey fan, Jim played with passion in his younger years and never lost his love for the game, including his inexplicable devotion to the Philadelphia Flyers, a team based in a city Jim only ever visited if Pearl Jam were playing there. He had a curious mind and a lifelong enthusiasm for learning, especially when it came to science and history. He loved sharing the music and ideas that excited him, he believed deeply in social justice, and he never shied away from a good debate.

Jim taught his kids to live by the maxim that the ‘number one rule’ was to ‘be good people.’ He treated every stranger he met with respect, interest and generosity, and invariably greeted friends and loved ones with a strong, heartfelt hug. Jimmy had a rare gift for making the people he met in his day-to-day life feel seen and valued. His humor, warmth, and mischievous charm will be sorely missed.

Jim’s family will host a Celebration of Life at the Black Sheep Irish Pub in Niantic, CT, on Saturday, November 15th, 2025 from 11am – 2pm. Family, colleagues, friends old and new, and all who wish to join Jimmy’s loved ones in honoring his life are very welcome to attend.

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