After graduating from high school nearly fifty years ago, my path forward was defined less by a straight line and more by a strong work ethic and a willingness to do whatever it took to keep moving ahead. I began my post-graduation years working as an auto mechanic, earning the funds necessary to attend County College of Morris (CCM) earning an Associate’s Degree in Business Administration. During those college years, I balanced classes with hands-on work—continuing part-time as a mechanic while also working nights and weekends as a tow truck operator. Those early years would shape everything that followed.
Following CCM, I accepted an accounting position at Prudential. While launching my professional career during the day, I continued operating the towing service nights and weekends. That side business eventually grew into the purchase, expansion, and operation of the company—all while I continued attending college towards at Bachelor’s Degree in the evenings at Rutgers-Newark. It was a demanding period, but one that reinforced the value of commitment and long hours invested with purpose.
In 1984, I met my best friend and the love of my life, Nancy Nunn—a proud 1980 “Mountain” girl— although we had numerous common social events in our lives, Sweet 16, parties of mutual friends, concerts and cruises our eyes never met until that chance encounter at The Nook in Hackettstown that evening in March of 1984) —and we were married in 1987. I still love the reaction I get when I tell people that my wife was a “Nunn” before I married her. We settled in West Orange, in our two-bedroom, one bath starter home where we still reside today. In 1989, I sold the towing business (which continues to operate successfully) and transitioned to working at a national sign supply company N. Glantz & Son (Glantz) as assistant branch manager, a nine to five job with bi-weekly overnight travel and again while continuing my education and personally completing the addition of two bedrooms and a full bath for my daughter Cara and soon to arrive son Casey. As I never had just one nine to five job before I also started doing tree work on Saturdays which not only kept me in shape, (no need for a gym when doing tree work) and to subsidize some daycare expenses. I ultimately earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Rutgers, marking a long-term goal achieved through persistence rather than speed.
Becoming less than enchanted with my role at Glantz I decided to pursue an opportunity in accounting. My new accounting career began to evolve as I joined Deloitte, where I spent five years, followed by one year at PwC in their respective tax departments. During this period, I earned my CPA license and a Master’s Degree in Taxation from Seton Hall. These milestones led me to Bederson LLP, a much smaller local firm in West Orange subsequently moving to Fairfield, where I have spent nearly 25 years as a Tax Partner and continue—despite repeatedly claiming that “this is my last year,” now for the third or fourth time. One day while at work another partner asked my to come into a meeting with a new client looking for help with an Opportunity Zone project, I walked into the meeting and immediately recognized a Burnet Hill transplant from fifth grade Lee Peyser, although Lee didn’t actually graduate with us I hooked him up with Michael for inclusion in LHS77, he can’t thank me enough for the lead and has gotten in touch with many of those he had lost touch with over the years, whenever we meet or speak on the phone we reminisce about Livingston and those in our class
Family has always been at the center of my life. Nancy and I welcomed our daughter, Cara Rose, in 1992, and our son, Casey Ryan, in 1995. As our children grew, I became deeply involved in coaching youth sports—soccer, basketball, baseball, and softball—and have served as a Scout leader for more than twenty years, a role I continue to enjoy today.
In addition to work and school, I served as a volunteer firefighter in Livingston for several years during the 1980s, prior to moving to West Orange. That experience sparked a deep interest in firefighting and public service, which led me to apply to the Fire Department of New York (FDNY). After successfully passing all requirements and examinations with a score of 97, I was offered an appointment. When the time came, however, I ultimately declined the opportunity—I would have had to in a short time move to one of the five broughs on NYC, which would require selling my home, selling my towing business and uprooting Nancy from her position as a law firm administrator which she still holds today for 46 years —an outcome that, in hindsight, was likely a wise decision.
Beyond family and work, I have remained committed to community and professional service. From 2016 to 2018, I served as President of the West Orange Chamber of Commerce and remain an active member of both the New Jersey Society of CPAs and the AICPA.
Our daughter Cara graduated West Orange High School in 2010 starting in the fall of 2010 both my daughter and my money went to the University of Michigan, having been accepted to all ten colleges that she applied to, chose the one furthest from home that offered no financial assistance. Upon graduation a Masters Degree in Speech Pathology was next and she was accepted to Columbia, NYU and Northwestern…you guessed it, she went to Northwestern in Illinois. While living in Chicago she became a student teacher at the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) where she remains today as a Speech Pathologist teaching sign language and speech primarily to young underserved children with speech and hearing issues.
While in Chicago, Cara met her husband Alex in a running club and they have run the Chicago and Berlin Marathons together. They were married in July 2023.
Most recently, in February 2025, Nancy and I welcomed our first grandchild, a grandson named Cillian Rhett (sorry no pictures allowed on social media). He is a handsome guy and a pleasure to be with, Oma can’t put him down for a minute, the frequent flier miles are adding up.
Our son Casey graduated West Orange High School in 2013 and after completing his Associate’s Degree at County College of Morris works at the Morris County Courthouse.
As we begin preparing—slowly—for eventual retirement, we enjoy frequent trips to Chicago to visit Cillian, exploring national parks (21 so far), and staying active through hiking, skiing, cycling and taking long walks and hikes with our five-year-old Catahoula Leopard Dog, “Stella” both locally and in Vermont where we have a second home.
If you haven’t been back in a while, our town has changed quite a bit over the years, nothing like it was in 1977. I still live close by and am in Livingston almost daily and have seen the changes, I also run into many of our classmates from time to time that still live in the area and we often catch up briefly and LHS and our classmate updates always come up.
Looking back, my journey has been shaped less by carefully laid plans and more by a willingness to work hard, adapt, and keep moving forward—often juggling multiple roles at once. From turning wrenches and running tow trucks to leading client engagements and mentoring others, each chapter built on the last. Education opened doors, but perseverance kept them open.
As my high school yearbook quote from Led Zeppelin read, “Yes, there are two paths you can go by, but in the long run there’s still time to change the road you’re on.” At the time, it was simply a lyric I liked, with no real understanding of how relevant it would become in the years that followed. In hindsight, that line captured the essence of my path—one shaped by course corrections, opportunity, and the belief that it’s never too late to choose growth. The greatest rewards, however, have come outside the office: a strong marriage, a close family, community involvement, and now the joy of being a Poppy.
Though my life may read like a long journey, geographically it has been remarkably small. I have lived my entire life within roughly a ten-square-mile area, with just two home addresses—both in Essex County. Every job, educational pursuit, and even meeting my wife all happened within that same radius. It is a reminder that meaningful change does not always require going far; sometimes the most impactful paths unfold exactly where you start. “the road I changed never required leaving home”.
Tim shared an article from the West Orange Chronicle for 2007. Here is the link: Tim Brennan West Orange Chronicle
