In Loving Memory Jack Dolan

It is with profound sadness that the family of John “Jack” Dolan, age 84, of East Haddam, CT, shares the heartbreaking news of his passing, on the morning of July 1st, 2026, at the Gaylord Rehabilitation Hospital in Wallingford, CT. He was the devoted husband of Karen Sherry Dolan, father of Alanna and Heather Dolan, and grandfather of Destiny Lipka, Kayden Duffield and Ralph Walker, Jr.

Jack was born on December 29th, 1941, in Waterbury, CT, and he treasured his Connecticut roots. He was in his glory whenever he set foot in The Nutmeg State. So it came to pass that when Jack and Karen sold their home in New York State, where they lived for over 30 years in order to be close to their respective jobs, Jack declared: “Now, I want to go home.” And he adored the 6 years they were able to spend together in his East Haddam dream house.

Donate In Loving Memory of Jack Dolan

A respected pioneer in Employee Assistance Programs, Jack held many important positions along the way in a very distinguished career in the Health Care industry. These included founding his own company in 1978 with two colleagues, Brownlee Dolan Stein Associates, a leading national EAP vendor which became the springboard for the creation of Managed Health Network. He also served as Executive VP, Marketing & Sales for American Psych Management, Regional VP of the New York Service Center for Value Behavioral Health, VP of Operations, Northeast, for ValueOptions and he developed an Employee Eldercare Service, SeniorBridge Family, a national geriatric management and home care company. He went on to direct the Sales Divisions for three major companies: PacifiCare Behavioral Health, United Behavioral Health and Humana Health Insurance, his last corporate position before retiring.

Although Jack was very proud of these accomplishments and his education, achieving two Masters degrees, a Masters in Public Health Education at Hunter College (MPH), NY and a Masters in Counseling Psychology (MA) at Adams State College, in Colorado (where he also taught psychology), he was most proud of his family: his two daughters, Alanna and Heather and his wife, Karen, a music industry executive. His best moments were spending time with them and sharing in their pursuits.>

Jack will be remembered as a handsome, charming, congenial, warm and kind man who was liked by everyone. He adored history, politics and gardening. He leaves behind many friends and admirers who will miss his humor, his intelligence, and his easy manner. He was a great role model for his colleagues and his children, instilling in them his sterling ethics and values. He loved his Church and he loved his life, which he embraced with great enthusiasm.

His family is very grateful for all that he did for them, always being there to help with unconditional support and love. He was their rock. He leaves a giant void which they will try to fill with the amazing memories they will always carry with them. In addition to Karen, his wife of 49 years, his children and grandchildren, Jack’s legacy will be cherished by his brother, James Dolan (Helen); his sister, Kathe Kaminski, his nephews, Rev. Michael Dolan, James C. Dolan and Robert John (R.J.) Kaminski, his niece, Laura Dubourg (Jacob) and his sister-in-law Lois Scali (Frank). He was pre-deceased by his parents, Kathryn and John Dolan, his brother-in-law, Robert Kaminski, and his nephew, John A. Dolan.

Funeral services will be held at a celebration mass on Thursday, July 9th, at 11 a.m. at St. Mary’s Church, 5 Hillhouse Ave, New Haven, CT. A public visiting hour will be held from 9:15 am-10:15 am at the North Haven Funeral Home, 36 Washington Avenue, North Haven, CT. Burial will be private.

About Making Headway Foundation

Making Headway provides supportive care and comfort to families of children diagnosed with a brain or spinal cord tumor, before surgery, during the hospital stay, and after the child returns home. Our programs and services are designed to help children and their families cope with the fear, anxiety, and neurological consequences of hospitalization, surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation treatments. At the same time, Making Headway is helping to find a cure, funding vital medical research in a field that has long been underfunded. Making Headway Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, EIN 13-3906297. All donations are 100% tax deductible.