Tom Nolan Tom Nolan, a legendary lacrosse coach who helped develop the Garden City lacrosse program, passed away on Tuesday, July 29 in Tucson, Arizona after a long battle with cancer.

Coach Nolan began coaching lacrosse in 1947 and completed 60 years as a coach in 2007. He coached the Garden City Recreation Summer Lacrosse program from 1964 through 1987 and is remembered well by many players. He was voted "Lacrosse Man Of The Year" by the United States Lacrosse Coaches Association in 1981 and became a member of the Metropolitan Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 1994. Tom received the first award given by the Lacrosse Association in the new category of "For The Growth Of The Game" in 2002. He was most recently the goalie coach at the University of Arizona.

Tom served in the US Army Paratroops during World War II. He participated in the huge airborne invasion of Germany, and was awarded the Bronze Star.

After his service in the Army, Tom joined NBC Television in April 1948. He was the special effects crew chief and worked with everyone from Milton Berle and Howdy Doody to Saturday Night Live and David Letterman. Tom shared an Emmy awarded for a production of "A Night To Remember", the story of the sinking of the Titanic. He retired after 40 years when he and his wife, Joan, moved to Arizona.

Tom is survived by his wife of 59 years, Joan as well as his two children, Cheryl Drinkwater (David) and Thomas III (Joan); three grandsons, Sean Drinkwater (Jussi), Thomas IV and Craig Nolan. He is also survived by cousins Jim Kiernan, Richard Kiernan and friend Mickey Felton; also by his in-laws, the Lovejoy family.

Donations may be made in Coach Nolan's memory to the San Xavier Mission School, Tucson, Arizona 85746, Tucson Medical Center Hospice, Peppi's House or the charity of your choice