John Guy Nolan

As I was reading on the porch of our vacation home in Ocean City, my Father walked out, and asked, "what are you reading?" "Seabiscuit", I answered. I closed the book. My reading for the day was over. The horse racing stories began. I never knew my Father had an interest in the ponies. He was an excellent story teller. He loved to talk about the "characters" of life, as he would say.The rest of the family was at the beach, so it was an afternoon of conversation with the old man. Actually...

A letter to my grandfather,

I can't believe its been over six months since you've been gone. We all miss you very much and continue to keep you in our thoughts and prayers. I think about you alot and want to call you up and talk to you. I miss the talks we would have on just about anything. I remember last year when I told you I wanted to be a police officer and was going to start working out in the gym. You were very excited and even began doing research on lifting weights and...

We came together as family and friends at the graveside in Allentown, NJ on August 27th, 2004 to say goodbye to John Guy Nolan, the beloved husband of my sister, Elizabeth, father of Tim, Jeanne, Tracey and Laura, grandfather of Lee, Chase, Shane, Lani, Nicholas, and Elizabeth. As the bagpiper played and the Marines stood at attention the service began. After the service both Tim and Lee spoke with wonderful memories of their father and grandfather. Taps were played and the Marines folded the...

A Story About Guy Nolan: Breakfast at Maria's

I did not know Guy Nolan as a son or spouse, father or grandfather, sibling or social friend- that is to say I was not part of his immediate family or inner circle of friends.

My story is from the other side of the family. The side one doesn't necessarily choose, but indirectly acquires through marriage. I am one of the 15 or so children from the siblings of Uncle Guy's wife- Aunt Fennie. I did not exist at the time...

Grandfather was a great person. I loved him very much! I liked when he watched me play a game on my playstation. I also liked when we all had thanksgiving dinner together! I loved when we were together just the two of us. I remember when he was sitting at the table for breakfast and he would always smile and say good morning little boy. Me, him, and Elizabeth always had a lot of fun playing together. And I remeber when we all went to visit him the doctors office, and there were all these...

It's hard to think he's gone, but I guess in everyone's heart he really isn't. Like Lee said, "What it all comes down to is that I'm gonna miss him." It's gonna be hard not going down and having him greet us at the door, or all sit at the Thanksgiving dinner, and having him load the grandkids mouths with wipcream, or even his own. I'm gonna miss the way when we would be in a conversation and then a long silence, and then him come in with a lecture, or some advice. Even when I was little I...