Dr. John D. Nolan Jr.

Retired orthodontist, beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, and faithful servant of Jesus, Dr. John D. Nolan, Jr. passed into the Kingdom of Heaven on Friday, August 20, 2021 at the age of 77. Raised in Marrero, Don graduated from Immaculate Conception School and Jesuit High School class of 1961. Pursuing his interest in dental arts, Don graduated from Loyola University's Dental School in 1967. He then entered the Navy as a lieutenant in the Dental Corps and was stationed on the U.S.S. Franklin D. Roosevelt in Norfolk, VA. Following his military service, he studied orthodontics at St. Louis University, graduating in 1972. Here began his love of the St. Louis Cardinals Baseball Team. He returned to New Orleans to work with his beloved uncle, Dr. Alvin Nolan, and practiced orthodontics on General De Gaulle Drive in Algiers for 40 years, retiring in 2011. Upon retirement, he began a second career as a volunteer tour guide at the National World War II Museum, as well as at St. Louis Cathedral. He was also a licensed French Quarter and cemetery tour guide. Always gregarious, gentle, and kind, he cherished sharing the city he loved with hundreds of visitors from around the world. Throughout his life Don was a devout Catholic, faithfully attending daily Mass at his long-time church parish, St. Andrew the Apostle, where in recent years, he also served as sacristan. Additionally, he and his wife Terry were active participants in many St. Andrew church ministries, school committees, and events. He and Terry were recipients of the Order of St. Louis Medallion, an honor awarded to outstanding lay leaders in the Archdiocese of New Orleans. He was the beloved husband of Terry LeBlanc Nolan to whom he was married on August 31, 1974, and the beloved father of Leigh Morrow (Chad) and Benjamin Nolan (Erin). He was "Poppie" to five beloved grandchildren: Audrey, Camille, and Juliette Morrow and Caroline and Patrick Nolan. The beloved son of the late J. Donner Nolan Sr. and Katherine Conzelmann. He is survived by four siblings, Judy Nelson (Guy), Michael Nolan (Cindy), Anne Miller (William), and Mary Lynn Pivach (George). He will also be missed by a multitude of nephews, nieces, cousins, aunts, and many friends and colleagues. Visitation will be at St. Andrew the Apostle Church at 3101 Eton St. in New Orleans on Saturday, September 25, 2021 from 9:00 am to 11:00 am, followed by a Memorial Mass at 11:00 am. Interment will follow at Westlawn Memorial Park in Gretna.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to St. Joseph Abbey, 75376 River Road, St. Benedict, LA 70457. The family would like to thank the doctors and nurses of South Baldwin Regional Medical Center in Foley, AL and West Jefferson Hospital in Marrero for their tireless devotion. A special thank you to Craig-Jason Nicholson-Uhl of Palliative Care at West Jefferson Hospital, for whom we are eternally grateful. The family invites you to share condolences and memories at www.gardenofmemoriesmetairie.com.