Nolan, Richard Thomas 1937–

PERSONAL: Born May 30, 1937, in Waltham, MA; son of Thomas Michael, Jr., and Elizabeth Louise (Leishman) Nolan; companion of Robert C. Pingpank (since 1955). Ethnicity: "Genuine WASP!" Education: Trinity College, Hartford, Conn., B.A., 1960; Hartford Seminary Foundation, M.Div., 1963; Yale University, M.A., 1967; New York University, Ph.D., 1973; also attended Union Theological Seminary, New York, NY, 1962–63, 1964–65, and Harvard University, 1991. Politics: Independent. Hobbies and other interests: Cavalier King Charles Spaniels.

ADDRESSES: Home—2527 Egret Dr., West Palm Beach, FL 33413-2161. E-mail—[email protected].

CAREER: Ordained Episcopal priest; Watkinson School, Hartford, CT, instructor in Latin and English, 1961–62; Choir School of Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine, New York, NY, instructor in mathematics, 1962–64; Cheshire Academy, Cheshire, CT, associate chaplain and instructor in religion and mathematics, 1965–67; Hartford Seminary Foundation, Hartford, instructor in philosophy and education, 1967–68, assistant dean and lecturer in philosophy and education, 1968–70; Mattatuck Community College, Waterbury, CT, instructor, 1969–70, assistant professor, 1970–74, associate professor, 1974–78, professor of philosophy and history, 1978–92, professor emeritus, 1992–. Visiting professor at Trinity College, Long Island University, University of Connecticut, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, St. Joseph College in Con-necticut, Pace University, Teikyo Post University, Broward Community College, Barry University, and other universities; Yale University, research fellow, 1975–76, 1978, 1984–85; Washington National Cathedral, visiting scholar at College of Preachers, 1994; Palm Beach Community College, adjunct lecturer, 2000–02. St. Paul's Parish, Bantam, CT, part-time vicar, 1974–88, pastor emeritus, 1988–; St. Andrew's Church, Lake Worth, FL, retired priest in residence, 2002–; Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine, member of society of regents, 2002–; supply pastor at other churches. Litchfield Institute, president, 1984–96; Pride Chamber of Commerce of the Palm Beaches, founding board member; member of Compass of West Palm Beach, End of Life Choices of Florida, Interfaith Alliance, Integrity, and Yale Legacy Partners.

MEMBER: American Philosophical Association, American Academy of Religion, Authors Guild, Authors League of America, Boston Latin School Alumni Association, Tabor Academy Alumni Association, Phi Delta Kappa, McCook Fellows Society of Trinity College, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club, Harwood Society of Cheshire Academy, Society of the Torch (New York University), Lambda Legal.

AWARDS, HONORS: Named retired honorary canon for life, Christ Church Cathedral, Hartford, CT, 1991.

WRITINGS:

(Editor and contributor) The Diaconate Now, Corpus Books (Washington, DC), 1968.

(With Harold Titus and Marilyn Smith) Living Issues in Philosophy, 7th edition (Nolan was not associated with previous editions), Van Nostrand (New York, NY), 1979, 9th edition (Oxford University Press (New York, NY), 1994.

(With F. Kirkpatrick) Living Issues in Ethics, Wadsworth (Belmont, CA), 1982, 2nd edition, 2000.

(With Robert C. Pingpank) Soul Mates: More than Partners (online publication), 2004.

Contributor of articles and reviews to Plumbline et al, Review of Books and Religion, and Hartford Quarterly. Hartford Quarterly, managing editor, 1968. Editor of http://www.philosophy-religion.org/, 2000–.

Some of Nolan's writings have been published in China and Indonesia.

SIDELIGHTS: Richard Thomas Nolan told CA: "During my senior years with increasing health maladies, I am still able to remain as active as I care to be. Nonetheless, demanding projects are not on my calendar. After my heart attack a few years ago, my partner and I retrieved from our files an incomplete manuscript begun in the 1980s by author Miriam Anne Bourne. We were unsure of my longevity and raced to update it in time for our fiftieth anniversary celebration in 2005. Because of our commitment to share the ordinariness of our life together as the radical right more and more demonizes gay individuals, Bob and I developed an online scrapbook, which contains our jointly edited and updated Soul Mates: More than Partners. We know that Mimi would be delighted with what we have done with her efforts. My other books were published conventionally, yet Soul Mates is dearest to my heart.

"A pivotal event was the 2005 public anniversary liturgy held for Bob and me at New York's Episcopal Cathedral of St. John the Divine. To be invited to celebrate there publicly was stupendous. Since the cathedral service, I have no unfinished business. Journeying onward with my soul mate, and among some lovely friends, for as long as God's nature and providence permit is the basis of each day. Quite frankly, it is a wonderful feeling."

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

Palm Beach Post, August 4, 2000, Doug Belkin, "A Couple of Ordinary Guys."

Waltham Tribune (Waltham, MA), August 6, 2003, Joshua Myerov, "Retired Priest Calls Move Historic: Waltham Native Says the Church Never Challenged Him about His Homosexuality."

ONLINE

Our Scrapbook: Richard T. Nolan and Robert C. Pingpank, http://www.nolan-pingpank.com (June 1, 2006).

Philosophy and Religion Web site, http://www.philosophy-religion.org/ (July 14, 2006), free electronic editions of Living Issues in Philosophy and Living Issues in Ethics.