James A. Dolan III

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James A. Dolan III, 78, of Richmond, passed away on Monday, March 27, 2017 after a long battle with Alzheimer’s. He was predeceased by the love of his life, Elena Dolan.

He was born on May 20, 1938 in Hartford, Connecticut to James and Grace (Dallesander) Dolan. He attended Buckley High in Hartford, where he discovered his love of art. As a youth, he worked picking tobacco leaves in the fields surrounding Hartford. As he told the story, he would hang out on a street corner until a truck would come by to pick up the daily workers and drop them off at different farms for Shade or Broadleaf. Jim attended college at the Rhode Island School of Design, and earned his Masters of Art degree from Assumption College, where he also taught adult education. During his time at RISD, Jim worked as a window designer for Peerless in downtown Providence during the glory days of downtown shopping. As he said, “Downtown was the place to shop and every big store had window designers: Peerless, the Outlet, and Shepards. We would compete for the best windows.” Jim was a popular elementary art teacher in Warwick, RI for over thirty years, which was where he met Elena, was also a teacher; they were both highly involved in the Warwick Teachers Union, holding leadership roles. There were many nightly meetings held around our kitchen table that lasted long into the night over pots of coffee and cake. Jim also designed and constructed the sets for numerous theatre productions held at area high schools. For a number of years, Jim and a partner owned a seasonal business called Just in Season on Main Street in downtown Hope Valley, RI. Anyone that knew Jim knew his musical tastes ran toward Barbra Streisand and John Denver, and he had a special affinity for Dolly Parton. He liked his pastry undercooked and his meat over cooked, and had to drink his coffee in a mug because of his tendency to crush Styrofoam cups. He was a lifelong and passionate antique collector, who also sold his collections at the Jewett City Antiques Mart. His knowledge of antiques and art was unmatched, and he was known in the antique community as a kind and fair man.

“Pep” as he was affectionately called, will be greatly missed by his children: Jon Dolan and his wife, Lori; James Dolan (Jim) IV and his wife, Karen; and Dr. Jennifer Dolan and her husband, Robert. Jim’s grandchildren gave him his greatest joy: Amanda, Jen, Julia, Sarah, Mary, and Harry.

Jim’s family would like to acknowledge the nurses and staff on 3rd Floor South at Coventry Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation for the care and compassion shown toward him during his illness.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend a Mass of Christian Burial on Monday at 10:00 a.m. in Saints John and Paul Church, 341 South Main Street, Coventry. Burial will be in St. Joseph Cemetery, West Greenwich. Visiting hours Sunday 4-8 p.m. in the Nardolillo Funeral Home &Crematory, 1278 Park Avenue, Cranston.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 245 Waterman Street, Suite 306, Providence, RI 02906. Visit Nardolillofh.com for online condolences