Francis Dolen

Francis "Frank" Dolen, age 84 of Ridgefield, husband of Elizabeth (Rhatigan) Dolen, died on Wednesday, November 3, 2010 at his residence. Mr. Dolen was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., February 3, 1926, son of Franklin and Marion (Coghlan) Dolen. He was raised in Staten Island, N.Y., attended Staten Island schools, New Dorp High School and graduated from Wagner College. He was a U.S. Navy veteran having served in World War II and the Korean War. Mr. Dolen joined IBM in 1955 as an analyst and retired in 1990 after 35 years of service. A resident of Ridgefield since February 1962 coming from Staten Island, he was active in the Ridgefield community. He was a member of the Democratic Town Committee, and served on the Town of Ridgefield's Planning and Zoning Commission, Board of Finance and Library Board and spent many years as a Little League coach. An accomplished distance runner, Frank was a member of the Wolfpit Running Club, as well as, being an avid gardener and passionate reader. He enjoyed genealogy and the great works of William Shakespeare and was a member of the Shakespeare Society. Mr. Dolen was a member of the Everett Ray Seymour Post American Legion of Ridgefield and of St. Mary's Parish. In addition to his wife of sixty years, he is survived by six sons, Frank Dolen and his wife, Julie of Washington Depot, James Dolen of Ridgefield, Thomas Dolen of New Fairfield, Joseph Dolen of Brookfield, Timothy Dolen and his wife, Cheryl of Boulder, Colo. and Michael Dolen of Ridgefield; two daughters, Eileen Haupt and her husband, Steven of Jericho, Vt. and Linda Dolen of Tampa, Fla.; two sisters, Eileen Newman of Washington, and Joyce Scanlan of Bainbridge Island, Wash.; and five grandchildren, Brendan, Tyler, Jessica, Colleen and Sadie. This fine man will be greatly missed by all who had the privilege of knowing him. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, November 9, 2010 at 10:15 a.m. in St. Mary's Church, Ridgefield. Burial will follow in St. Mary's Cemetery. The family will receive friends in the Kane Funeral Home, 25 Catoonah St., Ridgefield on Monday, November 8, 2010 from 5 to 8 p.m. Contributions in Mr. Dolen's memory and honor may be made to the Ridgefield Library, 472 Main Street, Ridgefield 06877, Regional Hospice of Western CT, Home Care Program, 405 Main St., Danbury 06810 or to St. Mary Church, Facilities Repair and Maintenance Fund, 55 Catoonah St., Ridgefield 06877.