John and Mary Nolan

[ Home ] [ Writing ] [ Politics ] [ Vita ] [ Teaching ]

John and Mary Nolan

Between them, John and Mary Nolan have played an important role in a wide range of activities, programs, and organizations in Mt. Airy.

Mary Nolan jumped right into community affairs in her first month in Mt. Airy. “When we first moved here seventeen years ago, I saw the WMAN office. I said, there is our community group, let’s see what is going on. I walked in and they needed a secretary and I said great. And they were smiling to themselves, thinking, ‘Hey we got a live one. She doesn’t know what she is getting into.’ But it was great. It was a wonderful way to jump right into the neighborhood and find out what was going on. But I had a problem going to the meetings and taking notes because it was hard to be listening and talking too. Then we moved to the east side and I joined EMAN.” Mary has been an active member of the EMAN board for a number of years. Mary has been especially involved in helping children—and their parents—in many different settings. She chaired Tot Lot three times, started play groups, supported nursing mothers, and has been an active member of both baby-sitting co-ops in Mt. Airy. Mary, together with David Fellner, initiated the original Mt. Airy Schools Committee. She has worked most years on Mt. Airy Day, one year as co-chair, and has become known to children in the community as the “pony lady”.

John, too, has focused his attention on activities for children and, particularly, on athletics. He was the treasurer of the Home and School Association at the Henry School for a few years. He also worked on improving the playground at the school. John was a founder and continues to help organize the Mt. Airy tee ball and baseball leagues. For over fifteen years he has been at the Sedgwick field every spring coaching baseball. He points out that it took some time for the baseball program to expand, and for the level of play to improve. “It was hard to break through to the next level where we could compete against other programs. When we first started we didn’t know enough as coaches to prepare the kids. But we have learned. And we still encourage all kids to play and develop.” Though he never played the game as a kid, for over ten years John has coached soccer in the fall with the Chestnut Hill Fathers Club. John also manages the Commodore Barry Club, which provides an important public space for residents of Mt. Airy.

Looking back on all that they have done, Mary said, “You do get back more than you give. Kids smile at us all the time. It is nice to know that they appreciate what we have done.” “Some of our kids are in high school or college now,” John added. Both say, “We would like to have time to do even more.”