Terence John McBrearty
May 27, 1958 – January 9, 2025
It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Terence John McBrearty (66) of Omaha, NE and Wishaw, County of Lanarkshire, Scotland. John joined the Angels in heaven on January 9, 2025, after suffering a brain aneurism/stroke.
John was born in Toronto, Canada on May 27, 1958. His family settled in Oswego, New York in the United States and John became a naturalized citizen on February 24th, 1976. The same year, he graduated from Oswego Catholic High School. In 1980, he received a bachelor’s degree from Lemoyne College in Syracuse, NY. He then attended the University of Glasgow in Scotland, graduating with a PhD in Aerospatiale Archaeology in 1984.
After earning his doctorate, John worked for several European oil and aircraft manufacturing firms. Between living in Texas and the United Kingdom, he attained his pilot’s license in 1986. In December 1988, while working for Donard United Kingdom, a subsidiary of the Donard oil and gas exploration company in the United States, John was part of a team to assist in the recovery of evidence in the Pan American World Airways Flight 103 wreckage that crashed over Lockerbie, Scotland. He and colleagues from Syracuse University, with the support of the U.S. government, used knowledge of computer technology and aerial photography to analyze photographs taken by reconnaissance satellites of the wreckage.
Throughout his career, he was a part of a group who founded two other companies, Geosys UK Limited and Aviation Resources Group LTD. He continued to work around the world and closely with the United States government, the companies he worked for continued to pursue contracts for oil and gas in and throughout the United States, Europe, and the Middle East.
He married Cheryl (Cheri) Renee Hilderbrand on October 11, 2003, at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church in Tucson, AZ. During their marriage, they resided in Manchester and Oxford, England; Boston, Massachusetts; Cheyenne, Wyoming; and lastly in Omaha, Nebraska.
John was a stout Democrat and enjoyed the chess game of American politics. He taught at several universities specializing in British and American military war history and strategy.
His passion was rebuilding classic cars and tinkering with mechanical and electrical projects. He had a strong love of reading, traveling, politics, and being a supportive husband and friend. He also enjoyed fishing, working in the yard, playing with the family pets, and taking walks around the lake near his home.
Terence John McBrearty was known by his friends and family as supportive, charismatic, intelligent, brave, humorous, articulate, loving, loyal and true to the ones he loved. He was an angel to strangers, an optimist, a visionary, and a leader.
He was preceded in death by his father, Patrick McBrearty of Lanark, Scotland and Oswego, New York, his mother Margaret Bernadette (Flood) McBrearty of Derry, Northern Ireland, and New York.
He is survived by his brother Phillip Thomas McBrearty (Susan) and their two daughters Kennen and Margo of Oswego, NY; by his former wife Cheryl (Cheri) Renee Hilderbrand of Omaha, NE; and by multiple nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, and cousins, in the United States, Scotland, and Ireland including the living relatives of Lily (McBrearty) and Kenneth McRae; Annie (McBrearty) and Peter Nolan; the Jim McBrearty family of Killybegs, Country of Donegal, Ireland; Martha (McBrearty) and Joe Connally; Teresa (McBrearty) and Thomas Lennon; the Eddie McBrearty family of East Kilbride, Scotland; the John McBrearty/Gallagher family of Scotland, and the Thomas McBrearty family also of Lanark, Scotland.
He had many friends from Ireland, Scotland, Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States, most especially Glenn Conrad of Freemantle, Australia; David Nightingale of Liverpool, England; and Toledo Boulware Hoes of Montgomery, Texas.
Visitation will begin Monday, February 10th, 9:30am at St. Stephen the Martyr Catholic Church with a Rosary at 10am followed by Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 a.m. with Fr. Matthew Pohlman as celebrant.
Interment: Ogallala, Nebraska Cemetery.
Additional masses have been offered in Scotland at St Mary’s Roman Catholic Parish in Lanark, Scotland and at St. Patrick’s Roman Catholic Parish in Wishaw, Scotland.
To view a live broadcast of the Rosary and Funeral Mass, the live link to the service will open at 9:45 a.m. Please visit www.heafeyheafey.com and press the “View Live Cast,” button on the top of the home page.
Heafey-Hoffmann-Dworak-Cutler, West Center Chapel, 7805 West Center Road, Omaha, Ne 68124. (402)-391-3900. www.heafeyheafey.com
3 Comments
So very sorry for the loss of your brother Piil & the affect on your whole family. Love you all- Maria & Bill
My prayers and sincere condolences to Phil and family. Fond childhood memories of Oswego.
Rest well my friend.
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