Margaret M. Nolan

Waltham - Miss Margaret M. Nolan, of Waltham, died Wednesday, April 29, 2009 at Lasell House in Newton. She was 92.

Margaret was born in Waltham on April 13, 1917, a daughter of the late Thomas F. and Margaret J. (Loftus) Nolan, and had been a lifelong resident. She was a graduate of Lasell Seminary in Newton and earned her Bachelor and Master in Education degrees from Boston University. Until her retirement in 1992 Miss Nolan had been the Director of Pupil Services for the Waltham Public Schools.

She began her fifty year career with the school department teaching geography and business courses at Waltham High School. She joined the guidance department shortly thereafter and served as its director for many years. Even after retirement Miss Nolan was called upon as recently as last spring to help coordinate the hundreds of scholarship applications the department received yearly. She met the challenge with cheerfulness, competence and determination.

She was honored as Woman of the Year several years ago by the Waltham Business and Professional Women's Club for her dedication to her profession and to her students. She was quoted at the time on her achievement by saying "I feel you get back 100-fold any kindness you do to anyone. That has certainly been true," a modest Miss Nolan said. "I've given my life to my job. All of my time and effort has been put into that for me." Her reward was the admiration of thousands of students and teachers for her academic and emotional support, often behind the scenes, during her lengthy career.

Other recognition of her achievements came when the Media Center at the new Stanley Elementary School was named in her honor and for her late sister, Claire, the former director of the city's physical education department. Waltham's Centennial Scholarship was named in her honor in 2007 and 2008 and former student Dick White established a yearly scholarship named for her as well.

Miss Nolan was a member of Woodland Golf Club in Newton where she won several '9-Hole' golf tournaments. She also belonged to the Marshfield Country Club and had been a former member of the Waltham College Club.

She leaves her sisters, Olive A. Nolan and Jean M. Nolan, both of Waltham; her nephews, Eugene B. Boeglin, Jr. of Lexington and Thomas F. Nolan, III of Connecticut; her niece, Margaret J. McNeil of South Carolina and several grandnieces and grandnephews.

She was also a sister of the late Thomas F. Nolan, Jr., Catherine E. Boeglin and Claire R. Nolan.

Family and friends will honor and remember Margaret's life by gathering for calling hours at the Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street (Rte. 20), Waltham on Friday from 2 to 6 p.m. and again at 9 a.m. on Saturday morning before leaving in procession to Saint Mary's Church, 133 School Street, Waltham where her Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery, Waltham.

Memorial donations may be made to the Waltham Scholarship Fund, Waltham High School, 617 Lexington Street, Waltham, MA 02452 or to Larry's Children's Fund, c/o Rev. Gerard D. Barry, Regina Cleri Residence, 60 Wm. Cardinal O'Connell Way, Boston, MA 02114.