Martin Francis Dolan

Martin Francis Dolan “Marty“, age 92, passed away peacefully in his home surrounded by family on October 6, 2025. Marty was born April 2, 1933 in Memphis, Michigan to Hugh and Mary Dolan. When Mary Ellen Patterson was born as an unexpected twin, Marty and his mother were her first visitors (legend has it that they used the same crib before they became high school sweethearts). They were married July 16, 1955, and shared 70 plus years of devoted marriage.

Marty came to Michigan State College and played his freshman year on the MSC football team, before an injury prevented him from continuing with the team that eventually won the National Championship and the Rose Bowl. He graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in Industrial Arts Education in 1955. He went on to teach at Warren High School and then Yale High School while studying for his Master’s. He moved to East Lansing in 1959 where he taught at East Lansing High School for over 30 years. For the majority of his teaching career he taught drivers’ education, a class he believed was one of the most important classes for students' lives. His students still remember many of his sayings, including “mirror, signal, mirror, head check, go”, and “are you waiting for a written invitation?”. He was also famous for whistling “Here Comes Santa Claus” if you waited too long for a turn, and teaching left-foot braking. While at ELHS, he was an advocate and supporter for multiple athletic events running the scoreboard, scorebook keeping, and announcing. Following his retirement, he taught part-time at Lansing Community College as a Word Perfect instructor. He and long-term neighborhood friend Carl founded B&D builders where they built many decks, garages, and other projects. He was passionate about Michigan State University athletics, working at the basketball and football games for over 60 years. Many people recognized him and his smile from Gate B at the Breslin Center, or from the press check in/elevator entrance at Spartan Stadium.

Marty was very active in multiple organizations, holding leadership positions at regional, state, and national levels. He was a part of the National Drivers Training and Traffic Safety Education Association, Lions Club International (member of Haslett and Meridian Clubs). Through Lions, he was on the National Leader Dog Council and was District Zone Chairman multiple terms. He was a lifetime member of the MSU Alumni Association. He was active at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, serving on the parish council, singing in the choir for many years, and being a member of the Knights of Columbus. He was also on the founding commission for St. John’s Student Parish. He loved his time singing with the Men of Orpheus Men’s Choir. He was involved in the Boy Scouts acting as Assistant Scout Master for Troop 24. His hobbies and interests included camping, building, woodworking, teaching those skills to his kids and grandkids, and figuring out any project that could serve the community. He helped build play structures at Lake Lansing Park and Patriarch Park. It was well known he would do whatever his neighbors needed help with including plowing several neighbors’ driveways on snowy days, mowing lawns in the summer, and cutting/trimming downed limbs. Marty truly loved his community.

Marty is survived by his wife Mary Ellen, his son Dan and daughter Cathy Abbott, MD (Brian Abbott), grandchildren Christina Abbott, Michael Dolan, Ryan (Shelby) Abbott, Robert Dolan, James Dolan, Great Grandson David Abbott, sister Helen Snell, sisters-in-law Joan Dolan and Judy Patterson, special cousin Mary Jo Stine, and many nieces and nephews who were ALL his favorites!

He was preceded in death by his parents Hugh and Mary Dolan, brothers William and Robert Dolan, sister MaryAnn Musial, and nephew (and godson) Mathew Dolan.

In lieu of flowers he would be pleased with contributions in his name to a charity serving the community. He frequently contributed his time, treasure, and talents to several charities, some of his favorites included:

St Thomas Aquinas Church: https://elcatholics.org/giving

Lions/ Leader Dogs School: https://give.leaderdog.org/for/ldb/info/website

East Lansing School Foundation: https://elef.us/

Capuchin Soup Kitchen: https://www.cskdetroit.org/en/donate/

MSU athletics https://spartanfund.net/

Visitation Sunday October 12, from 3:00 to7:00 PM at Gorsline Runciman East Chapel, with a Rosary at 6:30 pm, and Monday October 13, from 10:00 to 11:00 AM at St. Thomas Aquinas Church. Funeral mass Monday October 13, at 11:00 AM at St Thomas Aquinas Church. Internment at a later date in Memphis, MI.