Edward Brenner

Edward Brenner, 86, of Short Hills and Boca Raton, Fla., died Dec. 27, 2012. He was born in Newark.

As a student at Weequahic High School, Edward was editor-in-chief of The Calumet, the school newspaper, and was also a school sports reporter for the now-defunct Newark Evening News. An avid tennis player, he wanted to be a sports reporter, but graduated from Cornell University in 1948 with a degree in electrical engineering.

Soon after his graduation, his father, Joseph Brenner, asked him to spend six months at the family business Brenner Desk, a small shop selling used desks, because two key people had quit. The six months lasted until 1983, when he sold the business. Under the continued guidance of Edward and his brother, Robert, by 1970 the business had become one of the largest contract office furniture businesses in the state.

He was a generous benefactor to many charitable organizations.

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After retirement, he played duplicate bridge daily. A Gold Life Master, he was well-known in bridge clubs in New Jersey and Florida. He was a member of Green Brook Country Club, North Caldwell.

Predeceased by his first wife, Judith Horowitz, he is survived by his wife of 30 years, Lee; four sons, Jeffrey Brenner of South Orange, Howard O’Desky (Melissa) of San Antonio, Texas, Gary Brenner (Jennifer Flagg) of Winchester, Mass., and Grant Brenner (Marina) of Manhattan; two daughters, Julie Brenner (Marc Rutsky) of Princeton and Ilyse O’Desky (Leonard Garber) of Scotch Plains; a brother, Robert Brenner of Manhattan; and eight grandchildren.

Services were held Dec. 30 with arrangements by Bernheim-Apter-Kreitzman Suburban Funeral Chapel, Livingston.