Donald Herbert Nollar

Donald Herbert Nollar, beloved husband, father, and friend, respected city planner and dedicated public servant, passed away peacefully at his home in Pasadena, California on March 5, 2025, at the age of 86. His kindness, humor, and sense of duty touched many lives.
Born in Detroit, Michigan, on April 29, 1938, to Herbert and Christobel Nollar, he moved at the age of four to Pasadena, the city he loved and to which he would later devote his professional life.
While attending Pasadena public schools Don met his future wife of 64 years, Judy, with whom he attended UCLA and later raised four children. He earned a BA in Psychology from UCLA, a Master of Science in City and Regional Planning from USC, and a JD from Southwestern University School of Law. He added to his already extensive credentials a certificate in State and Local Government from Harvard University in 1985.
His life of service began as an officer in the US Navy from 1960-64. He subsequently pivoted to a career as a city planner, first in Los Angeles for a brief time, and then with the City of Pasadena Planning and Development Department, becoming Director in 1981. Over his 26 years there, his thoughtful approach to urban planning and development, his leadership and vision, played a central role in the city's transformation, including the revitalization of Old Pasadena, affordable housing initiatives, and historic preservation efforts.
Following his retirement from the City in 1993, Don continued to share his expertise as a consultant, working with institutions such as Caltech, Pasadena YMCA, and Villa Esperanza Services. He was valued for his strategic insight and his ability to bring people together to solve complex problems.
Deeply committed to community service, Don held leadership roles in nonprofit organizations, including the Pasadena Educational Foundation, Villa Esperanza Services, Civitan Club of Pasadena, AbilityFirst, Pasadena Child Health Foundation, and Centro Latino for Literacy. His work with Villa Esperanza and AbilityFirst were instrumental in improving access to housing and employment opportunities for people with developmental disabilities. He was also a member of the Docent Council of the Gamble House.
Don had a lifelong love for the arts, particularly music. He found great joy in playing the piano and listening to music at home, filling his family's life with music. He was a supporter of classical music organizations and an enthusiastic attendee of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Pasadena Symphony, Opera, Chamber Music. and recitals.
He was predeceased by his daughter, Jennifer, in 2024, a loss that deeply affected him. He is survived by his wife Judy, children, Donald, Annemarie, and Joseph and their spouses, grandchildren Katherine and James, and brother Philip.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Villa Esperanza Services or the Pasadena Educational Foundation.