Necrology

Peter Michael Dolan, Jr. '90

Jan. 5, 2021

On College Hill, fraternity brothers gave Peter Michael Dolan, Jr. ’90 the nickname “Rock,” and like the moniker implies, he lived his life with a steadfast devotion to his profession and family.

“In the history of fraternities, there’s never been a more applicable pledge name,” said fellow TDX brother and friend Jason Heller ’91. “He was as solid, reliable, and optimistic as a person can be. I don’t think I ever saw him without a smile on his face. In the years after Hamilton, as he spoke about his family, that smile grew even brighter.”

Dolan, an attorney of Manassas, Va., died on Jan. 5, 2021, at the age of 52.

A native of Williamstown, Mass., he was the son of Peter and Carole Dolan. He graduated from the Williston Northampton School before heading to Hamilton where he met his future wife, Karen Beck ’90.

A government major, he was a member and social chair of his fraternity, Theta Delta Chi, and a DJ with WHCL. He had a job in Bundy Dining Hall where he specialized in made-to-order omelets, a skill he happily continued to apply throughout his life, according to his wife.

Another campus job was at the former Emerson Gallery, where Dolan managed the main entrance and assisted with the setup and take down of exhibits. “He particularly loved the Auguste Rodin exhibit when it came to Hamilton,” Karen Beck recalled. “He even salvaged the whitewashed maple display tables and altered them to use as coffee and end tables in his first apartment.”

Dolan also completed an internship while at Hamilton with David Mekarski, the planning director for the Town of New Hartford. Through that connection, Dolan received his first job offer as an assistant urban planner in West Bloomfield, Mich. This experience confirmed his interest in urban planning and land use, which led him to go on to obtain his law degree.

In 1996, he graduated from The John Marshall Law School in Chicago, cum laude, where he was the lead articles editor for the law review. After working as an attorney in Chicago and Denver, he moved to Virginia, where for the last 19 years, his legal career was with Walsh, Colucci, Lubeley & Walsh. As a managing shareholder, his leadership of the land use and zoning practice group had a significant impact on the residents of Prince William County.

“He genuinely loved his job and had the highest regard for his ‘work family’ of trusted colleagues, mentors, and friends,” a published obituary noted. “He also believed in personally giving his time to the broader community in which he lived and worked.”

In addition to serving as a guest ­lecturer for George Mason University ­graduate programs and as a moderator for ­industry events, Dolan was a member of the board of directors for the Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center, chairman of the board for the Prince William County Chamber of Commerce, a member of the board of the Prince William County Boys & Girls Club, and a member of the Prince William DCSM/zoning ordinance advisory committee.

Yet first and foremost, according to the obituary, Dolan was devoted to his family. He and his wife enjoyed time with their two daughters, especially travel and time spent at Deep Creek Lake where he loved to helm his boat. Dolan also loved reading, skiing, golf, family games, and most outdoor activities.

“He was passionate about music of many genres and will always be remembered for matching the perfect tune to any mood or occasion,” his sister Beth Dolan wrote in the obituary. “His family also finds solace in the fact that he lived life in the moment and didn’t tend to sweat the small stuff.” As he would say even in the worst of times, “It’s all good.”

In addition to his wife and daughters, survivors include his parents and a sister.

 

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