MENIFEE, Calif. — Gerald “Jerry” Francis Dolan, the father of Bishop John Dolan, died peacefully Aug. 9 in Menifee, in Riverside County. He was 96.
Dolan was born on Dec. 2, 1929, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. On June 12, 1950, he married his wife, Catherine, at St. Patrick’s Parish in Cedar Rapids. Together, they made their home in San Diego, where they raised their family and shared more than 76 years of marriage.
After living for a number of years in a senior residential community in San Diego, Jerry and Catherine recently moved to a senior community in Menifee to be close to their daughter, Christine.
Dolan is survived by his wife; five children, Cecilia, Steven, Matthew, John and Christine; grandchildren; and a great-grandchild. He was preceded in death by four of his children, Therese, Sean, Thomas and Mary.
His son Matthew was a former IT director for the Diocese of San Diego. His son John is a former auxiliary bishop of the San Diego Diocese and current bishop of the Diocese of Phoenix.
