John Jay Brenza's Obituary
John Jay Brenza 101: Born July 18, 1922, John was the son of John Nicholas Brenza and Ida Hazel Lendon of Cleveland, Ohio. He passed away peacefully from natural causes on November 8th, 2023 in Annapolis, Maryland. John was raised and grew up in Cleveland and graduated from Case Western University in 1943 where he received a degree in Metallurgical Engineering. During his last year at Case Western University, he joined the US Navy Reserves and was assigned active duty during WWII at the US Naval Academy as an instructor in the Department of Marine Engineering.
After the war, John married Rheta Alice Carter of Annapolis and is survived by their six children: Karen Leigh Somers, Jon Michael Brenza, Keith Allen Brenza, Roger Hillary Brenza, Timothy Jay Brenza, and Pamela Jeanne Brenza; along with two foster children: Jacqueline Martins and William Scott; and two grandchildren Michelle Brenza O'Brien and Cheryl Brenza O'Brien Poirier; and great grandchild, Kevin Scott O'Brien. In 1991, John married Virginia Woodland Cruse.
In private practice, John worked as a Metallurgical Engineer with several local metal manufacturers and served as President of the American Society for Metals and The Maryland Institute of Metals. He also served as president of several local civic organizations. Please check back for memorial details. He will be dearly missed by his family and friends alike.
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