TOPSHAM — Bernard Phillip McRann, 93, of Topsham, died peacefully Saturday at Cadigan Lodge in Topsham.

McRann was born May 22, 1919, in New York City, a son of Thomas and Kathryn McRann. He graduated from Roosevelt High School and attended the College of New Rochelle before enlisting in the U.S. Navy. He served during World War II, becoming a member of the Permanent Shore Patrol in New York until March 1946.

After the war, McRann became a member of the New York City Subway Police for a year and then decided to enter the New York Police Department’s police academy. After graduation, he began his long and loyal career with the NYPD. Forty years and 10 months later, McRann retired having achieved the rank of deputy inspector. In his long and successful career, one of his many contributions to service was being instrumental, along with his team, in capturing of the Son of Sam Killer, David Berkowitz.

On May 22, 1943, Bernard married his wife, Elizabeth. After retiring from the NYPD, the McRanns moved to Brunswick, where they found wonderful and loving friends and family with whom they enjoyed laughter, good food, music, and conversation. At the time of McRann’s death, the couple’s 70th wedding anniversary was on the horizon, and Bernard never gave up hoping to make that special celebration. His determination and strength of character inspired everyone who came into contact with him.

A lifetime member of the Captain’s Endowment Association and the Knights of Columbus, McRann was also a member of the Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association, and the Superior Officers Association/Retired.

He is survived his wife; three daughters, Patricia M. Bigelow of Morgantown, Penn., Debora Donnellon and her husband John, of Leesburg, Va., and Monica A. McRann of Hyde Park, N.Y.; a sister, Margaret Drummond of Emerson, N.J.; four grandchildren, Aileen M. Reilly and her husband Sean, of Oakton, Va., Christopher Donnellon and his wife Michelle, of Plano, Texas, Jennifer Donnellon and her husband Matt Elkin, of Leesburg, Va., and Shane McRann Bigelow and his wife Kimberly of New York City; nine great-grandchildren, Megan Reilly, Nicholas Donnellon, Erin Reilly, Keelin Reilly, Xavier Donnellon, Brendan Reilly, Sebastian McRann Bigelow, Declan McRann Bigelow and Kieran McRann Bigelow; and many nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his brother, Thomas, who died suddenly on March 17, 1966.

A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Friday at St. Charles Borromeo Church-All Saints Parish in Brunswick, directly followed by military honors and a reception in the church hall. Burial will be held at 1 p.m. in the chapel of the Maine Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Augusta.

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