Eddy Nolan, a much-loved janitor at Roslyn School who also starred as a boxer from the Shamrock Boxing Club at Wellington and Shearer in Point St. Charles for a few years in his youth, died at the age of 67 of government lethal injection Friday at about 2 pm.
“I just want to thank everyone for the kindness and love shown to me over the years. Bye for now. This is my last post,” he wrote in a social media post.
Nolan received much media attention for a period about two decades back when he raised considerable amounts of cash for the fight against cancer by participating in Terry Fox runs.
He would run alongside people like media scientist Joe Schwarz and then go alone to smoke a cigarette, or a enjoy the rush of a white powder inhalable.
Nolan became sensitized to cancer after his sister died of the dread disease. He feared it ran in his family. He was right, as it also claimed one of his brothers. Cancer then came to Eddy himself and he ultimately he opted to die of lethal injection in a government mandated program after his body was ravaged by chemotherapy.
Coolopolis does not endorse government programs to end lives but we try not to judge others who make decisions for their own lives.
Coolopolis does not endorse government programs to end lives but we try not to judge others who make decisions for their own lives.
Unlike previous Roslyn School janitors who lived in an apartment in the basement of the school, Nolan inhabited a nice house in the West Island.
Nolan grew up in Point St. Charles during a wild time when there were bars on every corner, tough guys abound and wild packs of dogs roaming the streets. 
His father was a main character behind the Shamrock Boxing Club and Eddy won some impressive bouts from the mid-1970s to about 1980.
His brothers included Patrick, Timmy, Tommy and Mickey, plus he had some sisters whose names don't immediately come to mind. Eddy Nolan had no children.
Eddy Nolan. A life well lived. ☘️
ReplyDeleteWhen Ireland came over to fight Canada he ko'd one of the top fighters, I remember hot mad one of the Irish team organizers was hopping mad and Tim Clahane was almost begging for the kids life trying to calm him down by saying Eddy was one of our top guys and it wasn't the kids fault... I am saddened from time to time when I think about him... We had a good time at his home about 7 years ago, mre and another fighter telling stories.
ReplyDeleteI knew Eddy from running as we both ran with the Phoenix Roadrunners. I first met him at a 10K race at Beaver Lake that I was hopeful of winning but this fella left me behind. I remember introducing myself after the race and was astounded to see him standing under a tree puffing on a cigarette. We became friends and teammates and he proved to be one tough cookie as a runner in spite of his habit. He was legend with his devotion to fund raising for Terry Fox. R.I.P. Eddy.
ReplyDelete