Photograph of Governor Joe E. Brennan Provided by Maine Irish Heritage Center, Portland.  1934-2024.

Joseph E. Brennan, 89, proud son of Munjoy Hill as well as a political icon, died last night at his home on Munjoy Hill:

“Maine and the nation have lost a great public servant and I have lost a friend,” wrote Governor Janet T. Mills in a statement issued today at the passing of Governor Joseph E. Brennan.  “Through five decades of public service – as a state legislator, County Attorney, Attorney General, Member of Congrress, Federal Maritime Commissioner, and as Maine’s 70th Governor – Joe Brennan never stopped working to improve the lives of Maine people.  The proud son of Irish immigrants, Governor Brennan’s career was guided by the core values of hard work, fairness, friendship. and a drive to help those who needed a helping hand, values which he learned growing up on working class Munjoy Hill in Portland,” the Governor wrote.

“I saw Joe Brennan’s character and decency up close when I worked for him when he was Attorney General.  In 1980, Governor Brennan took a chance on a young woman lawyer, appointing me as Maine’s first woman District Attorney, over the objections of a number of men at the time. That appointment, little did i know then, put me on the path years later to become the first women to serve as Governor of Maine.”

“More importantly, Governor Brennan demonstrated for me and others that politics is about building relaltionships, that public service is not about enriching yourself, but about enriching the lives of others and that the most important relationship is the one with the people you serve,” Governor Mills wrote.

“Governor Brennan’s philosophy was best summed up by the slogan featured on one of his campaign buttons:  “every one counts.”  On behalf of the people of Maine, I extend my deepest condolences to Joe’s wife Connie, his children JB and Tara and the entire Brennan family,” Governor Mills concluded her remarks.

On September 20, 2014, Governor Brennan served as a Grand Marshall wiith former Governor Paul LePage (R) at a Bicentennial Celebration for Ft. Allen Park on the Eastern Promenade,  Governor Brennan  told the crowd in part:  “………..when we come together for a common goal, we are at our best.”

The Governor grew up on Kellogg Street on Munjoy Hill.  A resident of a condominium high rise on the Hill in his later years, this blogger saw him occasionally walking along the Eastern Promenade. He always waved, but was reluctant to have his photograph taken by this blogger who was always ready with a camera should he change his mind!

The Maine Irish Heritage Center will sound its bell at noon tomorrow, Sunday, April 7th in loving memory of and to honor Governor Joe Brennan.