Claire R. Nolan

Waltham – Miss Claire R. Nolan, of Waltham, died Sunday, June 18, 2006 in Belmont Manor Nursing Home, Belmont. She was 81. Born in Waltham, a daughter of the late Thomas F. and Margaret J. (Loftus) Nolan, she was a lifelong resident. Claire attended Saint Charles High School in Waltham and graduated from Lasell College in Newton. She earned her B.S. degree from Sargent College at Boston University and her Masters in Education from B.U.’s School of Education. Her teaching career began at Marycliff Academy in Winchester before she joined the Waltham public school system. During her forty-three years with the Waltham system, Claire taught at several schools including the Whittemore School, Banks Elementary and North Junior High School. She retired in 1992 as the Director of Physical Education, a post she had held for almost twenty years. In March, 2003, Claire and her sister, Margaret were honored with the dedication of the Nolan Media Center at the new Stanley Elementary School in Waltham because of their lifelong commitment to education and love of the children they had served. Claire was also a golf mentor and coach to children at Woodland Golf Club where she was made an honorary member for her distinguished service to the sport. She also ran the Girls State Program of the American Legion Auxiliary for more than fifty years. Claire was a member of the Women’s Golf Association, the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association where she inaugurated the Girls High School Golf Tournament thirty-seven years ago, the New England Golf Association, the Massachusetts Teachers Association, the National Educators Association, and the Waltham School Administrators Association. Claire was also a life member of the American and the Massachusetts chapters of the Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance and a life member of the Boston Board of Officials. She is survived by her sisters, Olive A., Margaret M., and Jean M. Nolan all of Waltham; her niece, Margaret J. McNeil of Charleston, S.C.; her nephews, Eugene R. Boeglin, Jr. of Lexington and Thomas F. Nolan III of Fairfax, Virginia and several grand nieces and grand nephews. Claire was also a sister of the late Thomas F. Nolan, Jr. and Catherine E. Boeglin. Relatives and friends are invited to attend the Funeral at 8 a.m. Friday from The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street (Rte. 20), Waltham followed by a Funeral Mass in Saint Mary’s Church, 133 School Street, Waltham at 9 a.m. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery, Waltham. Visiting hours will be held Thursday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Memorial donations may be made to the Claire R. Nolan Memorial Scholarship, c/o John Graceffa, Waltham High School, 617 Lexington Street, Waltham, MA 02452 or to Larry’s Children’s Fund, c/o McAuliffe, 38 Oak Street, Wellesley, MA 02482.