The current Hawk mascot, David Moser, attended Jim Brennan’s services on July 19 to honor the original creator.
Reminder Publishing submitted photo
HAMPDEN — Hampden resident and creator of Saint Joseph’s University hawk mascot James “Jim” Brennan died on June 21 at age 91 after a life of encouraging and uplifting those around him, his family said.
In 1955, as a sophomore cheerleader at Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, Brennan put together a plan to transform the university’s paper logo into a living mascot in order to encourage support of the university’s sports teams and create a cheer for the university, his daughter Joann Brennan told Reminder Publishing.
Through working with the other class presidents to raise funds, Jim organized the purchase of a hawk mascot costume which he wore until 1958 when he graduated, Joann said. Along the way, he helped create the school’s “creed,” “the hawk will never die” by flapping his wings as the mascot throughout the entire game at sporting events.
“The hawk embodied what my father was all about – cheering people on and reminding them of the good things,” Joann said.
Over his three years as the Hawk, Jim attended events from sport games, special dinners, recognition ceremonies and homecoming. His well-crafted mascot has since been worn by more than 60 other Saint Joseph’s students, now considered an honor at the school, and has won multiple national awards, including Mascot of the Year, a Guinness World record for the “most flapping in five consecutive minutes,” and being nominated for the Mascot Hall of Fame.
Jim first put on the Hawk for a basketball game on Dec. 3, 1955, which Saint Joseph’s University went on to win, she said.
In addition to his work to support people through the Hawk, Jim was also an advocate for nursing home residents during his more than 40 years working in the field.
During his career, Jim worked as an administrator for Mary Lyon Nursing Home where he created programs such as the Ho Ho Hotline, in which residents answered phone calls as Mr. and Mrs. Claus, and the Rock and Roll Jamboree, a rocking chair fundraiser, to encourage residents to remain active in their communities, Joann explained.
He would later continue his creative ideas while working at Hillhaven Corporation.
Jim worked to ensure that nursing home residents “were still vibrant citizens in our communities,” she said, explaining that Jim Brennan aimed to “transform perspectives [of nursing homes] from a place to die to a home, where living is.”
He also worked to allow married couples to share rooms at a time when genders were divided between different wings and petitioned the state to increase financial support for nursing home residents, Joann stated. In the community, he organized interviews between students and nursing home residents to create biographies of their lives.
“He never thought of himself as an advocate … but he was known as a visionary,” Joann said, highlighting her father’s humility and passion for helping others. “He cared deeply [that] one could live a full, rich life [at a nursing home and] … wanted to make an impact.”
Services for Jim Brennan took place on July 19 and were attended by the current Hawk mascot.
