Mary Jane Dolan

Dolan, Mary Jane (Radich)
Ann Arbor, MI

Mary J. Dolan, age 91, passed away peacefully with family by her side on October 7, 2025 at StoryPoint Assisted Living in Saline, MI, due to complications from colon cancer.

Mary was born on July 30, 1934 at home on the south side of Chicago, IL to Luzarija Radich (nee Jakominic) and Joseph Radich. She graduated from Lindblom High School, briefly attended The University of Illinois at Navy Pier and then began working at the Ford Motor Company in Chicago. She joined the Ford Ski Club soon after that, not knowing it would change her life when on a New Year’s ski trip weekend, she met handsome, dark-haired James Christopher Dolan, who impressed her with his charm, intellect, a few card tricks and a virtuosic rendition of “Clair de Lune” on the piano. Jim and Mary were married in Chicago on November 17, 1956 and then moved to Ann Arbor, MI where they created a life together raising five children.

As her children grew older and with education all around her in Ann Arbor, Mary decided to return to college and complete her degree, first attending Washtenaw Community College and then obtaining a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Eastern Michigan University in 1977. She worked for many years as a Technical Illustrator at the Environmental Research Institute of Michigan before retiring in 1995. Mary and Jim cherished their later years together which they filled with volunteer work, world travel, regular winter excursions to the Panhandle area of Florida and abundant time with family and grandchildren before beloved Jim’s passing in 2010.

Education, art and music greatly influenced Mary’s life. She said that going back to school and getting her degree in fine arts was one of the best decisions she ever made, and she was grateful for a husband that supported her in every way.

Above all else, most important to Mary was family, to which she devoted vast amounts of her time and energy. She often said that she was extremely proud and grateful for her children and grandchildren, and for the positive relationships they all have with each other. She easily adopted many of the social technologies which emerged during her lifetime and joyously utilized these to maintain strong family connections, wherever her large extended family was located across the globe. For these and many other qualities she was much loved.

Survivors include daughter Maureen Dolan Tyra of Los Angeles, CA (Andrew Tyra, Emily Tyra Santucci (Adam, great-grandson Rowan James), Grant Tyra (Kaina)), son Christopher (Julie) Dolan of Birmingham, MI (Catherine, John), son Michael (Malia) Dolan of Boston, MA (Alexandra, Sophie), son Thomas (Celeste) Dolan of Atlanta, GA (Claire, James), and son Paul (Annemarie) Dolan of Ann Arbor, MI (Brayden, Kaitlyn).

The Dolan family would like to express our sincere appreciation for the dedicated care our mom received from Seniors Helping Seniors, the team at StoryPoint Assisted Living and Gentiva Hospice during the last months of her life.

Cremation has taken place with interment in Forest Hill Cemetery in Ann Arbor, MI. A celebration of her life for family and friends will be held in the Spring of 2026. Memorial contributions may be made to Peace Neighborhood Center or Family Learning Institute, both in Ann Arbor, MI.