James A. Nolan, DMD

He was born in Danbury, CT on October 28, 1946, to James and Arline Austin Nolan.

He was affectionately known as Doc by his family, friends and close business colleagues. Doc grew up in Danbury in the house his parents built on Southern Boulevard with his brothers Kim, Bob and Mark. One of his first claims to fame was winning a smile contest at age 11 sponsored by Genung’s Department Store on Main Street. His reward was a red, three speed English bicycle, then a coveted prize.

Foremost among his many passions was skiing, which he began at an early age and continued throughout his lifetime. He started skiing at local ski areas in the “banana belt” but his ski travels would eventually take him to locales throughout much of the eastern and western United States, Europe and South America.

Doc attended local public schools and graduated from Danbury High School, class of 1964, where he ran varsity cross country for legendary coach Dan O’Grady. His yearbook highlights that he received a superlative for nicest smile. Following graduation, he attended Norwich University in Northfield, Vermont, graduating in 1968 with a biology degree and a commission in the US Army as a Second Lieutenant. At Norwich he excelled academically in a rigorous program and took full advantage of the school’s on-campus ski area. He competed for Norwich in all four years on the Eastern Collegiate ski circuit against Division I powerhouses and was named ski team captain for his senior year. Following graduation, he attended the University of Pennsylvania Dental School, graduating in 1972 with a DMD degree. Soon after graduating from dental school, he entered active duty as a captain in the Army Dental Corp. and served for two years at the United States Military Academy (West Point) where he provided dental care to cadets, academy staff and families.

During his time at West Point he also served as an assistant ski coach for the West Point Ski Team. Following an honorable discharge from active duty in 1974, Doc put his professional career on hold and headed west to Vail, Colorado to ski and compete for Ski Club Vail in the Rocky Mountain amateur ski division. He eventually transitioned to competing on the professional Pro B tour. Doc met lifelong friends in Vail and later returned often with his family over the next fifty years.

Doc returned to Danbury in 1976 to start a successful, multifaceted career as a dentist and entrepreneur. He opened his own dental office on Chapel Place in a building he compatibly shared with his father’s dental laboratory and had a busy dental practice for twenty -five years. Doc’s entrepreneurial spirit also led him to start a series of real estate investment and development companies with his three brothers. These companies grew over four decades focusing primarily on residential apartment development and were modeled after the small company his parents started in 1955. Today these companies provide affordable housing to the greater Danbury community. Along with his long-time business partner, Mark Breen, he developed several signature housing complexes locally and nationally. Two prominent complexes in Danbury are Palace View Senior Housing and Harrison Square.

Despite his numerous professional and business accomplishments, Doc was most proud of his family. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and son-in-law. He adored his wife Jerilyn and daughters Kimberly, Jordan and Jamison. He was happiest when the family was spending time together at home or traveling, which included annual ski trips to Vail and Europe. Doc’s bond with his three brothers, who were also his business partners for four decades, was based on his loyalty, sacrifice, generosity and unwavering sense of family.

Doc leaves a legacy built on hard work, integrity, courage, compassion, loyalty and honesty. He was a visionary entrepreneur, whose integrity influenced everyone around him.

He will be greatly missed by his family, business colleagues and friends.

Doc is survived by his beloved wife, Jerilyn (Leonard); cherished daughters: Kimberly, Jordan and Jamison; brothers: Kim and wife, Therese (Servas); Robert and wife, Susan (Fairchild); and Mark and wife, Deb (Pietras); grandson Xavier Lewis; mother-in-law Jacqueline Leonard; and many nieces and nephews.

Funeral Services will be conducted at 11:00am on Saturday, November 15, 2025, at St. Anthony Church, 17 Granville Ave., Danbury, CT. Interment will be private.

Friends will be received from 4:00pm – 7:00pm on Friday, November 14, 2025, at the Green Funeral Home, 57 Main St., Danbury, CT.

In lieu of flowers contributions in Doc's memory may be made to The Center for Empowerment and Education, Inc., 2 West St., Danbury, CT 06810 or to St. Anthony Church, 17 Granville Ave., Danbury, CT 06810 or top Friends of Tarrywile Park, 70 Southern Blvd., Danbury, CT 06810.