6 | June 21, 2018 | The winnetka Current news winnetkacurrent.com In Memoriam Former township supervisor remembered for big heart Neil Milbert Freelance Reporter Paddie Brennen was a multi-talented woman whose passion was sharing her gifts with her fellow human beings in all walks of life. “What a special person she was,” said Jeanne Rosser, social service administrator for New Trier Township. “I will always be grateful to have known her personally and professionally. She loved her work, her family and her community.” Her community outreach extended from the affluent North Shore to the impoverished areas of Chicago. “Paddie’s generosity of spirit led her to graciously offer support, encouragement or a listening ear to anyone in need,” New Trier Supervisor Alan Goldberg said. “She was a vocal champion of resources for those living on the margins. Paddie worked passionately on programs that assisted youth, senior citizens and community members facing developmental challenges.” Sentiments similar to those expressed by the social service administrator and the supervisor have been repeated time and again following the passing of the former New Trier Township supervisor and trustee at age 76 on May 26 at Evanston Hospital. A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday, Calling all PET BOUTIQUES WALKERS GROOMERS BOARDERS & MORE! DOES YOUR BUSINESS PAMPER PETS? Advertise Today! Contact the Classified Department 708-326-9170 22ndcenturymedia.com Brennen July 21, at Christ Church Winnetka. The daughter of Charless and Harriet Hahn was born on Oct. 4, 1941. She graduated from New Trier High School in 1959, received her undergraduate degree from Beloit College in 1963 and received her master of arts degree in Latin American studies from Tulane University in 1967. As a young woman, she taught briefly in Spain. “She also got involved in computer technology when she was in college,” said her former high school classmate and longtime friend, New Trier Township Assessor Jan Churchwell. “She became an expert in computers when most of us knew hardly anything about them.” In 1970, she married Theodore “Ted” Brennen. The couple lived in Philadelphia, Albion, N.Y. and Altadena, Calif. before moving back to the North Shore and settling in Winnetka. “They were living in Philadelphia and met through a friend,” said the couple’s son, Phillip. “I think they went on one date and my dad told her they were going to get married.” Following Ted’s death in 1993, the widow moved back to Wilmette, where she had grown up. “Paddie and I met in high school, where we shared a love of signing,” Churchwell said. “At the time of our 25th reunion, we reconnected and became friends. In the years since, we shared not only our enjoyment for classical music but countless bridge hands, meals, stories about our families and laughs. Her generous spirit, her big heart, her warm smile — all these things were the essential Paddie.” Brennen was a longtime active member of Christ Church Winnetka. She sang in the church choir for nearly 50 years and served as a member of the church’s Benevolence Committee, Her involvement in benevolence dated back to her high-school days at New Trier, when she worked at the church as a youth group volunteer. Brennen also volunteered for many social service agencies, one of which was St. Leonard’s Ministries on Chicago’s Near West Side. She was a board member of the ministry, which provides housing and support services for formerly incarcerated individuals returning to the community from Illinois prisons. While Brennen was revered for her commitment to public service, she also made her mark in the public sector. She worked for 15 years as an information technology consultant for Analysts International Corp., and also consulted for Honeywell, ATT and McDonald’s. In 2009, Brennen was elected a New Trier Township trustee. After four years, she became a New Trier Township supervisor in 2013 and served until 2017. “As the social services administrator, I worked with Paddie to administer all the social services programs that had to be reviewed and approved by the township supervisor,” said Jeanne Rosser, the Township’s social services administrator. “She always approached situations with a collaborative spirit and a focus on how best to meet residents’ needs. She was always thinking about how our existing programs were meeting needs and the potential development of programs that could be utilized in needs that weren’t being met. “She was a wonderful woman, a real blessing and one of the best bosses I ever had. I learned a tremendous amount from her.” “Her dedication and enthusiasm for New Trier Township was clearly evident throughout her many years of service,” Goldberg added. “Paddie can best be described as a warm, caring individual known for selflessness in both her professional and personal lives. Anyone who had the good fortune to know her was graced immediately by her effervescent smile and outgoing persona.” “I knew her for the 30 years I’ve lived in Winnetka and she and I crossed paths so many times over the years,” Winnetka Village Council member Penny Lanphier said. “She was a very compassionate and caring person, one of those stalwarts who always turned out.” “When you hear people talk about Paddie, they may talk about her work for Christ Church or her many years on the board of St. Leonard’s House or her years furthering the work of New Trier Township but beyond all she did for the organizations and people she cared about she was a devoted mother and grandmother,” Churchwell added. “Her son, his wife and their four children live in Cary. Paddie thought nothing of working a full week, attending a meeting or two in the evenings and then heading way out to Cary on weekends to watch her grandchildren engaged in sports or cheerleading.” Brennen is survived by her mother, Harriet Hahn; son, Phillip; daughter-inlaw, Lisa; and four grandchildren.
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