Edmund J. Brennan, 97, of South Dartmouth died May 7, 2017, after a brief illness.

He was the husband of Virginia M. (Welch) Brennan. They were married for 74 years. He was born in Taunton, the son of the late Edward J. Brennan and Lillian (Nichols) Brennan. He resided in the Whittenton section of Taunton until 1984 when he moved to South Dartmouth. He was a communicant of St. Mary's Church in South Dartmouth.

Brennan was a 1938 graduate of Monsignor James Coyle High School where he played football and baseball. The football team was undefeated in his senior year. He then attended Providence College.

In 1941 he enlisted in the United States Marine Air Corps and became a marine pilot. After being honorably discharged from the Marine Corps, he attended night classes at Boston College Law School and was admitted to the Massachusetts Bar in 1948. He practiced law in Taunton until 1991.

Brennan was a member of the Taunton Municipal Council from 1950 to 1952, serving as Council president in 1952. He also served as City Solicitor for the City of Taunton. He was associated with Mechanics Cooperative Bank for 39 years, serving as its President, Chairman of the Board of Directors and as a conveyancing attorney.

Brennan was a lifelong sailor who made several round trips from Padanaram to West Palm Beach on his sailboat "Marmaru" with his son John, his grandsons and his longtime friend, Don Campbell. In retirement, he enjoyed sailing, growing vegetables and sharing the bounty at large family gatherings at his home in South Dartmouth. He made many trips to Ireland where he became well known to the residents of the village of Goleen. During his last visit, the locals hosted a party at a local pub for his 95th birthday.

Brennan is survived by his wife Virginia; daughters Elizabeth McDermott and her husband Tom and Lillian Carney, and her husband, Patrick; his sons Edmund and his wife, Deborah, and John and his wife, Gloria.

He was the father of the late Virginia M. Czerny and Mary B. Schanck. He is also survived by 15 grandchildren, Andrew B. and Suzanne M. Czerny, Thomas and Sean McDermott, Meghan Lash, Patrick Carney, Jr., Kathleen Larisa, Colleen, Michael and Edward Carney, Elizabeth"Beth" Schanck, Edmund J. Brennan, III, Michael S. Brennan, John T. Brennan, Jr. and Lillian J. Brennan; and 15 great grandchildren. He was the brother of the late Thomas Brennan and Lillian M. Mahoney.

Burial was at South Dartmouth Cemetery. For tributes and online registration visit www.waring-sullivan.com