John Joseph Nolan

John Joseph Nolan, age 73, of Columbus, Ohio, formerly of Andover and Tewksbury
Massachusetts, passed away on Monday, September 9, 2024, surrounded by his family in the
care of hospice.
He was the beloved husband of Mary Ann (Toohey) Nolan with whom he celebrated their 54th
wedding anniversary on August 21st. John was the devoted father of Jack Nolan and his wife
Jillian (Brien) Nolan, Daniel P. Nolan and his wife Valerie Parker, and Mary Elizabeth (Nolan)
Demas and her husband Matthew W. Demas. He was honored to be the well-loved grandfather
of Hayleigh Perry, Abigayle (Perry) Hadden and her husband Damian Hadden, Zoey E. Nolan
and Ryder J. Nolan.
Born in Lowell on October 15, 1950, he was the son of the late John J. Nolan and the late
Christine M. (Cheetham) Nolan. He was the nephew of Daniel Cheetham of Salem, NH. John
was raised in Tewksbury and graduated from Austin Preparatory High School in Reading. He
received his Bachelor’s degree at Worcester State University and his MBA and Juris Doctor at
the University of Virginia.
John was a partner at the Boston law firm of Sherburne, Powers, and Needham. In later years
he began his own law practice in Andover working with neighboring towns and cities to gain
approval for affordable housing development.
He was an avid Boston sports fan but his true avocation was creating the “Nolan Family
Compound” at the Tewksbury family home, where friends and family would frequently gather for
sports: wiffle ball, horseshoes, badminton, ice skating, zip lining, volleyball, cornhole, golf,
bocce, cribbage and 45s. His example inspired the “Turkey Olympics”. He hosted
homecomings and political fundraisers. He even created a path to pick blueberries! His hard
work and vision provided a gathering place for the family whenever needed. His memory is
continuing to be honored as this tradition of hospitality is carried on by family who still live on the
property.
Whenever John’s professional skills were needed he would be there with a smile and his calm
reassuring manner. He was the anchor of the family. When asked what kind of lawyer he was,
with his quick Irish wit, he would always answer, “the brilliant kind”!
In addition to his immediate family John is survived by his sister, Christine E. (Nolan) Kinnon,
Mary J. (Nolan) Buczynski and her husband Ted Buczynski, Edward L. Nolan and his wife
Catherine Johnson Nolan, Catherine L. (Nolan) Desharnais and her husband Roger W.
Desharnais, David F. Nolan and his wife Yvonne H. (Sprangers) Nolan, and his sister-in-law
Jane (Churchill) Nolan. He is predeceased by his brother Thomas G. Nolan and his brother-in-
law Albert R. Kinnon, III. He will be deeply missed by many nieces, nephews, cousins, and
friends.
A celebration of John’s life will be held in Massachusetts in October. He will be interred in a
private ceremony at the O.M. Whipple Columbarium located in the Garden of Remembrance at
the Lowell Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Sisters of St. Francis of
Assisi.

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