Obituary of John M. Nolan, PhD

John M. Nolan, PhD

Of Huntington, NY on September 16, 2023.  Born on October 14, 1927, son of the late William and Rose (Hanlon) Nolan.

He is survived by the love of his life, Cathleen (Fenton) Nolan, his wife of 67 years; his son John, Jr., (Veronica) of Sparta, NJ; Daughters Laurie (Barney) Kelley of New Canaan, CT; Suzanne (Pat) McNamara of Garden City and Joanne (Robert) Sorge, of Garden City. He was Poppy to 11 grandchildren: Cathleen (Graham), John III (Ksenia), Faleigh (Michael), Tricia (Isaac), Julia, Robert, Brighid, Beth, Jay, Joanna and Colleen, and eight great-grandchildren: Isaac Aiden, Amara, Mason, Nolan, John IV, Sammy, Daniel and Wesly.  He would observe, earnestly, how remarkable it was that his four perfectly average children delivered him such extraordinary grandchildren.

He was a deeply faithful man, and heard God’s call to service every day of his life.  He graduated from Iona College, and served in the US Army.  He earned a Master’s degree in Education and a Ph.D. in Psychology from St. John’s University.  He was a popular teacher at St. John’s Prep and St. John’s University where there were often waitlists for his classes.  As a clinical psychologist, he was a patient, kind and generous therapist and counselor.  His legendary ability to remember his patients’ hopes, fears, dreams and plans (but rarely their names) made him the consummate confidante. 

An active member of St. Anthony of Padua parish, he served the community in many parish ministries and treasured the relationships that grew from them.   In his career in the South Huntington Schools he touched the lives of countless students, their families and fellow educators. 

Visitation Monday 3-8 PM at Nolan Funeral Home. A Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated Tuesday 10:30 AM at St. Anthony of Padua Church in East Northport, NY. Burial to follow at St. Patrick’s Cemetery in Huntington, NY.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St Anthony of Padua Church, East Northport, NY.