Michael Francis Nolan

A native of Chattanooga, Tennessee, third child to Joseph and Florence Nolan, Michael was educated at Notre Dame High School in Chattanooga, where he became interested in engineering. At eighteen he joined the Knights of Columbus and remained a devout Catholic the rest of his life. He attended Missouri School of Mines and Metallurgy and pledged Kappa Sigma fraternity. He graduated in three years with a degree in metallurgical engineering. While he was at Rolla he met Madeena, a student at Lindenwood College, and the two fell in love. They were married in Chattanooga and honeymooned in Bar Harbor, Maine. He and Madeena settled in St. Charles, Missouri, where both were active in Democratic politics and environmental concerns. During this time he studied and passed the difficult examination to be classified as a professional engineer. Shortly after, his attention shifted to financial and management issues; he attended St. Louis University and received a Masters in Business Administration. Michael worked at Diversified Metals, where he received several patents, and then at Sverdrup and Parcel, where he was in charge of creating a solid waste management report for St. Louis County. The family added two sons: Andrew, born in 1966, and David, born in 1974. Michael, a committed parent, joined Adventure Guides and, in Nashville, became a Cub Scout den mother.

The Reverend James Mallett, a lifelong friend, urged Michael to relocate to Nashville, Tennessee and put his MBA to use by becoming the chief financial officer of the diocese. The family moved to Nashville, where they would reside for the next thirty years. The family thrived there, active in the community and making lifelong friends. During this time Michael auditioned for and was accepted by the Nashville Symphony Chorus, remaining a member as long as he lived in Nashville. He served one term as president, and on one occasion traveled with the chorus to Russia to participate in the White Nights Festival. He also joined a recorder consort and performed on several occasions. Michael supported Madeena’s writing career and on one professional outing wore a name tag that identified him as “Madeena Spray Nolan’s Husband.” Their St. Patrick’s Day parties, always held precisely on March 17, became legendary.

Michael and Madeena moved to Cincinnati after the birth of their grandchildren, Maxwell Nolan and Lee Riley, and resided on Chase Avenue in Northside. Later still, Michael and Madeena moved to Twin Towers Retirement Community, where Madeena still lives. Michael and Madeena were enthusiastic grandparents, being the bus drop for both children on school days, and hosting Camp Grandkid for a week every year which ranged from cooking lessons to field trips, to a jaunt to the children’s museum in Indianapolis and several days in Chicago.

Michael was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph P. Nolan and Florence (Brownlee) Nolan, and his sister, Madeleine (Nolan) Rogers. He is survived by his wife, Madeena (Spray) Nolan; his sons, Andrew S. Nolan (Mickey Moran) of Rockville, Md., and David K. Nolan (Tam Riley) of Cincinnati, Ohio; his grandchildren, Maxwell Nolan and Lee Riley; his siblings, Joe B. Nolan of Christiansburg, Va., Mary Lou Holland of Hixson, Tennessee, Gabie McLeroy of Knoxville, Tennessee, Andy Nolan of Lookout Mountain, Georgia, Danny Nolan of Chattanooga, Tennessee, and Martha Martin of Chattanooga, Tennessee, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and their children.

A memorial service will be held at Grace Episcopal Church in Cincinnati on August 9 at 11 a.m. with a light lunch to follow. All who knew Michael are welcome to attend. Further services are planned in Nashville, and Chattanooga, Tennessee. In lieu of flowers, contributions to Musica Sacra in Cincinnati or the Nashville Symphony Chorus in Nashville are requested