Albert C. Nolan, Jr

NEWBURYPORT -- Albert C. Nolan Jr. of Newburyport died suddenly Sunday, April 11, at Anna Jaques Hospital, just 18 days shy of his 71st birthday. He was the husband of Marilyn J. Cohodas.

Mr. Nolan had recently retired from the state's Board of Bar Overseers, an organization that investigates complaints about lawyers, where he had worked for 42 years as a financial investigator. He was a long-time member of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, an elite group of crime-fighting experts.

Raised in Westwood, he was a graduate of Xaverian Brothers High School in that town. He was a 1972 graduate of Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., where he earned a bachelor's degree in finance. In 1990 he received a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Massachusetts.

Mr. Nolan -- "Al" to virtually everyone who knew him and “Albie” to his family and childhood friends -- was known for his wry sense of humor and his unflappable temperament.

As a 19-year-old student he joined the throngs at the August 1969 Woodstock Music Festival.

After his college graduation, Mr. Nolan worked for a private accounting firm and, in 1976, joined the financially troubled anti-poverty North Shore Community Action Program in Peabody as business manager. The agency's executive director at the time, Jim Boylan, remembers Mr. Nolan's tenure fondly.

"Not only was he skilled at finance but he was compassionate and understood what we were doing at NSCAP," Boylan said. "He worked diligently to get us back to solvency and continued to be creative and allow the organization to do important community organizing work. His dry sense of humor helped those around him overlook adversity and focus on the important things in life."

At the Mass BBO, in 2018, he and other lawyers and staff organized and formed the Office and Professional Employees International Union Local 6 after their vacation days and retirement fund payments were reduced and health care contributions went up. Mr. Nolan remained active in the union until his recent retirement this past February.

Locally, in the mid-1990s, Mr. Nolan served as chairman of the Kelly School Parent Teacher Council. The Kelley School closed in 2007.

Albert Crandon Nolan Jr. was born on April 29, 1950, the son of the late Albert C. and Rosemary (DeGiacomo) Nolan of Westwood. He had lived in Newburyport for more than 40 years.

In addition to his wife of 35 years, Mr. Nolan is survived by a daughter Rebecca Nolan and her partner Christopher Jackson of Orange and a granddaughter, Maeve Lea; a sister and brother-in-law, Frances L. and Paul E. Jessoe of Norwood; and a nephew, Paul E. Jessoe Jr.

A private "Celebration of Al" will be held May 1 in Newburyport. The Twomey, LeBlanc, & Conte Funeral Home 193 High St. Newburyport, MA 01950 is assisting Mr. Nolan’s family with his arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Al’s name to a social justice organization of your choice.

To offer online condolences please visit www.tlcfuneralhome.com.

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