Obituary of Brian B. McDermott
South Plainfield, NJ – Brian B. McDermott, 83, passed away at home in his sleep surrounded by his loving family on Tuesday, August 4, 2020 after a fifteen year fight with Parkinson’s disease. Born and raised in Manhattan to the late Dillon Joseph and Eileen (Benson) McDermott, Brian moved to South Plainfield in 1970.
On June 21, 1955, Brian enlisted in the United States Marine Corp. and served his country proudly until his discharge as a Private First Class on April 23, 1957. Brian completed his undergrad studies at the City of NY College and received the Charles T. Cromwell Award, which is given to the senior student with the highest average in History. He continued his studies at Columbia University where he received his Masters Degree with high honors. He worked his career life as a systems engineer and chief IT Architect at major banking and financial institutions, such as Chase Bank, Manufactures Hanover, Bankers Trust of which he was a Vice President and finally retiring from Merrill Lynch shortly after the attacks on the World Trade Center.
Brian enjoyed reading, running marathons, working out and anything to do with fitness. His favorite time spent was in the outdoors – he loved to hunt, go camping and fishing and spend time in NY City and the Catskill Mountains. He loved animals, especially cats and dogs, was good with his hands as a carpenter and enjoyed classical music. Brian was unlike most and loved life on both sides of the spectrum; in New York City and in the mountains.
Brian leaves behind his loving family; wife of sixty-one years, Maria (Maisonet) McDermott, his son Ian who lived at home caring for him, son Sean and his wife Janet, daughter Michele Kenny and her husband Garry all of South Plainfield, his sister Maureen McDermott of New York, NY, five grandchildren; Dylan, Liam, Aidan and Megan McDermott and Ethan Kenny and his cat Wolfie who is lost without his best friend.
Visitation will be held at South Plainfield Funeral Home, 2456 Plainfield Avenue, South Plainfield, NJ 07080 on Saturday, August 8, 2020 from 4:00 pm until 6:00 pm. A religious service will be held at 5:30 pm with military honors concluding Brian’s service. At the request of the McDermott family, cremation will be held privately.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations sent in Brian’s name to the Parkinson’s Foundation (www.parkinson.org) would be deeply appreciated.