Negril Notes

Joe Nolan (1929-2005)

July 18, 2005

“That’s beaut-E-ful, Vinnie” he says on cue. Fighting heavy eyelids Joe watches the slideshow of “The Bogan Family’s” latest vacation in our darkened living room, as my dad, Vinny also, goes into painstaking detail on each of the hundreds of slides. It’s going on two hours, all the kids have snuck off to my sister’s room to listen to Bay City Roller records, and all the other adults have long since dozed off. Undeterred my dad continues the story of our trip, and good ol’ Joe Nolan loyally feigns rapt interest in the saga.

Joe Nolan was my Dad’s best friend. For more than thirty years, they’d shared life’s ups and downs. They had so much in common, both Teamsters, both Irishmen, and both family men with kids in the same age range. They’d seen communions, confirmations, graduations, marriages, ordinations, divorces and unfortunately even a funeral. Through it all, along with the wives, they stayed the closest of friends.

Joe was so proud of his boys, Brian a priest, and Brendan one of New York City’s Finest. He was no bragger, but he could tell a story with the best of them. He’d have the room in stitches telling of Brendan’s trials and tribulations as a New York City cop, and though his Brian stories were a bit toned down, they were no less enthusiastic.

Joe loved to laugh! My first job was as a dishwasher at a local Chinese restaurant and Joe thought it was just hilarious how they pronounced my name. He called me Winnie till I was forty! It was our thing, and it’s funny how sad it makes me to know, I’ll never hear him say it again.

“Essie and Joe”, you never say one without the other. I can barely remember when “The Nolans” weren’t a part of our lives. I was in the first grade when my mother told me the son of a woman she bowls with would be in my class. For the next thirty plus years “The Nolans” were and still are as close as family. For twenty years we shared Thanksgiving Dinners together, and Thanksgiving remains my favorite holiday.

Joe somehow made it through the sudden and untimely death of his only daughter Maureen, and it seemed to give the rest of the family comfort knowing they were together again. I’m sure he’ll love what she’s done with the place!

Brian, their oldest, and I went through St. Matthew’s Elementary School together, we even served as alter boys. Though my Catholicism waned in the intervening years, Brian’s grew stronger and I’m sure Joe beamed with pride as he looked down upon Father Brian Nolan stoically performing his funeral mass before the very large crowd.

Safe Home Joe