Brendan Wall

Brendan Wall

Brendan Wall of Seattle WA, formerly of Honolulu HI, passed away peacefully on August 31, 2022, at the age of 92.  He joins his beloved wife and son, Alita Castor Wall and Brendan Wall, in eternal rest. Brendan is survived by his children Christopher and Sarah Wall of Seattle, WA; Catherine (Wall) and Dan Schultze of Seattle, WA; Jonathan and Krista Wall of Snoqualmie, WA; and Margaret (Wall) and Sean Kennedy of Medfield, MA.  He is also survived by his adoring grandchildren: Ella and Lucas Schultze; Chloe, Nissa, Nora, and Brendan Wall; and Maeve and Kieran Kennedy.

Brendan was born September 10, 1929 in San Francisco to Irish emigrants Albert and Bridget (Corkery) Wall. He grew up surrounded by his sisters Margaret (Wall) Driscoll and Catherine (Wall) Colvert and his brothers Fr. Kevin Wall, O.P. and Fr. Albert Wall, O.P., all of whom preceded him in death. The entire family was well known in their tight-knit community centered around St. Dominic’s parish.

Brendan attended St. Dominic’s School and graduated from St. Ignatius High School.  After serving in the Army, he followed his brothers into the Dominican order, earning Master’s degrees in Philosophy and Religion and a Lectorate in Sacred Theology from St. Albert’s College in Oakland.  A man of deep faith, Brendan was ordained and lived as a member of the community at St. Albert’s Priory for 9 years, before discerning his true vocation to married life.

Brendan did marry the love of his life, Alita Castor, on June 9, 1966. They enjoyed 48 beautiful years together, building a home and raising a family in Honolulu, HI.  On moving to Oahu, Brendan and Alita found a sense of community at St. Stephen’s Church in Nuuanu Valley, later becoming fixtures at the Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Peace near their home at Kukui Plaza. They were well-known teachers to countless students around the island. Later, they spent many happy summers in Paris and enjoyed holidays with their children and grandchildren on the mainland.

Brendan never lost his passion for theology.  He taught religion and philosophy at Kapiolani Community College for decades, encouraging his students to ask themselves the big questions and serving as a mentor to many.  Brendan never stopped exploring those same questions himself.  Even after he retired from the classroom, he could often be found at a coffee shop with a new book and his ever present notes.  At any family gathering, Brendan was just as likely to bring up Jung or Heidegger as he was to “gush” about the “fabulous” and “unbelievable” food.

Brendan will be missed by his brother-in-law, Dominic Colvert, his brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Ray and Chery Castor, and his nieces and nephews, as well as many friends, former colleagues, and students.

A funeral mass will be held at Blessed Sacrament Church, Seattle, WA on September 23rd at 10:00am.  Interment will follow immediately at Calvary Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital at stjude.org.

For those who are unable to join in person, please join us virtually at https://youtu.be/E4NnoOJ3l68.