Greg Brennan

In 1992, four years after the tragic passing of his son Matt '88, Greg Brennan and his family started the Matthew G. Brennan '88 Memorial Scholarship, which for over 20 years has provided need-based financial aid to deserving students. The Scholarship has helped dozens turn the dream of a Jesuit education into a reality. Greg passed away in 2016 after 27 years of faithful support to the mission, leaving a portion of his living trust to the School. In choosing to include Jesuit Dallas in his estate plans, Greg left a legacy for his beloved son that will impact generations of young men.

"Matt had such a passion for Jesuit, and I could never figure out why," said Greg in a 1992 letter to Father Koch. "I believe I now have the answer. Shortly before I left Dallas I wondered to someone about Matt's love for the School. The person, who wasn't Catholic and had never had children attend, responded matter-of-factly: 'Well, you know that they say Jesuit is more of a family than a school.'"

Matt spent half of his life knowing that he was terminally ill with a respiratory disease that inexorably and increasingly sapped him of his stamina. Despite an inability to lead an ordinary life, he never let his affliction get him down. Rather, he continued to radiate good humor and continued in high spirits. He once remarked to his father that, "his problems gave him greater insight into the pressures and difficulties confronting other people." He was not resigned to his fate, but he accepted God's will with exceptional poise, equanimity, courage, and grace. He never stopped smiling, never stopped caring, and certainly never stopped fighting. In his name, and the goodwill that results from the tangible benefits of his scholarship, Matt's legacy will live in perpetuity.