Nolan named as Westborough Veterans Day Grand Marshal

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Nolan named as Westborough Veterans Day Grand MarshalWestborough – James C. Nolan has been chosen as this year’s Veterans Day Grand Marshal. He will be the guest of honor at ceremonies to be held on Veterans Day, Monday, Nov. 11.

Nolan was born on July 8, 1933 in Boston. He grew up in Roxbury and attended St. Patrick School, before Boston College High School. On Nov. 25, 1951, shortly after starting his freshman year at Boston College, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy Reserve, was assigned to surface Division 1-4 Boston, went to United States Naval Training Center, Bainbridge, and attended Reserve Officer Candidate School in Long Beach, Calif., and Newport R.I.

On June 6, 1955, upon graduation from B.C., Nolan was commissioned Ensign USNR and assigned to active duty aboard the USS Guadalupe as gunnery officer. Between assignments, he returned to Boston and married the love of his life, Josephine MacPhee, who joined him on his next assignments to Guam and Japan.

Released from active duty in August 1957 he returned to Boston and the naval reserves, assigned to the Submarine Division 1-7 and 1-8. Shortly thereafter their first child, Mary Elaine, was born, followed by William in 1959 and Daniel in 1962.

Nolan qualified for assignment to submarines after training of the USS Toro, USS Sailfish and USS Diablo, before being transferred to Surface division in Williamsport, Penn. Having completed his master’s degree from the Boston College School of Social Work in 1961, he started working with the United Fund while in Williamsport.

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In April of 1963 he relocated to the Lynn United Fund and was assigned to the Harbor

Defense Division at Boston Harbor. He was tapped by the mayor of Lynn to head up the Lynn Economic Opportunity endeavor, and from 1965-1967 was president of the Massachusetts Community Action Program.

The family continued to grow with the birth of Kathleen in 1964, Neil in 1971 and James Jr. in 1974.

Nolan became commanding officer of Mobile Inshore Undersea and kept the same position when transferred to Mobile Undersea Warfare Division 3- 1 in Providence, R.I.

Outside the Navy, Nolan expanded his involvement with United Fund Boston, became a director for Catholic Charities, had a career the MBTA as a transportation planner and for 15 years was a senior lecturer for Northeastern University in their evening Business School program.

Since moving to Westborough the family has been involved in many aspects of the community.

To this day, Nolan continues to sing in the choir at St. Luke’s and with the Journey Home Singers as well as being the “piano man” for the Willows at Westborough.

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