James Charles Brennan; Retired Physician

James Charles “Charlie” Brennan, a retired physician and medical professor, died at home in Ojai on Tuesday. He was 76.

He was born May 22, 1923, in County Monaghan, Ireland, to Thomas Patrick Brennan and Theresa Agnes O’Neill. He was the eldest of eight children.

Brennan graduated from University College Dublin Medical School and interned at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Dublin. He completed his pathology residency at the University of Toronto and St. John’s General Hospital in Newfoundland, Canada.

He worked as a professor of pathology and director of laboratories at Baylor University in Houston, Johns Hopkins Medical School in Baltimore and Buffalo General Hospital in Buffalo, N.Y.

In 1971, Brennan moved to Ventura and joined the pathology staff at Community Memorial Hospital. He became the director of laboratories at Ventura County Medical Center in 1974.

He was also the pathologist and director of laboratories at Ojai Valley Community Hospital from 1974 to 1982. He retired in 1992.

Brennan loved teaching and working with the resident physicians.

He had been an avid sports enthusiast all of his life. In Ireland, he was a member of several secondary school and college championship soccer teams. He also loved golf, skiing, sailing and all types of fishing.

Brennan is survived by his wife, Priscilla; a son, James of San Francisco; daughters Brenda of Seattle and Siobhan of San Francisco; sisters Sheila and Sister Mary Assumpta, both of England; brothers Pat and Gerry of Ireland; one grandson, and one great-granddaughter.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Brennan’s name may be made to the Ventura County Medical Center Research Foundation or to Catholic Charities.

A memorial Mass is scheduled Saturday at 12:30 p.m. at Our Lady of Assumption Church in Ventura, with Msgr. Donal Mulcahy officiating. Interment will be in Ireland on Feb. 20.