Thomas F. Nolan, Jr., 91, retired surgeon, father of Greenwich resident

Friday, 09 December 2011 14:05

Thomas F. Nolan, Jr., M.D., died at Connecticut Hospice in Branford on Dec. 7. He was the husband for 65 years of Joan Devine Nolan of Madison, father of a Greenwich resident and was 91.

He was predeceased by his father Thomas F. Nolan, Sr, M.D., his mother Mary Bowen Nolan, of New York City, and his brother Richard B. Nolan, M.D., also of NYC. Born in Greensburg, Pa., on May 15, 1920, Dr. Nolan graduated from LaSalle Academy, New York City,  Manhattan College and NYU School of Medicine with residencies in surgery at St. Vincent’s Hospital, NYC and St. Vincent’s Hospital, Erie, Pa. Dr. Nolan served in the U.S. Army Medical Corps from 1946-1948 and from 1952-1953. He practiced general surgery in Erie, Pa. from 1950-1986. He and his wife Joan retired to Madison, in 1986. In retirement he pursued many artistic interests — poetry, music and art — with the same joie de vivre he exhibited in his personal and professional endeavors, his family said.

He was president of the Northwestern Pa. Chapter of the F.A.C.S. and active in the American Cancer Society. He served as president of the St. Vincent Hospital medical staff from 1971-1972,  chairman of the United Way gift committee, officer in the “Y” Men’s Speaker Club and a Eucharistic minister at St. Peter’s Cathedral in Erie, Pa.

Besides his wife, he is survived by five children, Betsy N. Sandberg (Bill), Riverside; Thomas F. Nolan III (Barrie), Fairview, Pa.; Jodie Nolan (Jonathan Thomas), South Deerfield, Mass.; Robert W. Nolan, M.D. (Marianne), Castle Rock, Colo., and Kate N. Clemens (Dave), Glastonbury; grandchildren, Brendan Nolan (Meaghan), Darien, Christopher Nolan (Johanna Kao), Hong Kong; Jesse Nolan, San Diego, Calif.; Emma Nolan-Thomas, Ann Arbor, Mich., Tyler Sandberg, Broomfield, Colo.; Griffin Sandberg, Boulder, Colo.; Elizabeth Nolan, Castle Rock, Colo.; Ian and Dylan Clemens, Glastonbury. Also surviving are three great- grandchildren, Mackenzie, Jack and Marykate Nolan, Darien.

“His family and friends will miss his incomparable compassion, humility and humor,” the family said. “His glass was always half full and others always came first.”

A funeral Mass will be held on Monday, Dec. 12, at St. Margaret’s Church in Madison at 11 a.m. A reception will follow at The Winter Club in Madison. Burial will be at a later date in Erie, Pa. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Sisters of St. Joseph of Northwestern Pennsylvania, 5031 West Ridge Rd., Erie, PA 16506-1249 in the name of Thomas F. Nolan, Jr., M.D.

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