John J. Nolan, 80, a longtime Chicago firefighter who was severely burned by an explosion early in his career but recovered and rose to the rank of deputy district chief, died of pneumonia Wednesday, Sept. 19, in Palos Community Hospital in Palos Heights. A gregarious man, Mr. Nolan was born and raised in the city’s Brighton Park neighborhood on the Southwest Side and joined the Chicago Fire Department in 1950 after serving in the Merchant Marines and the U.S. Navy during World War II, said his son, John. Shortly after Mr. Nolan joined the Fire Department, he was fighting a building fire from a ladder when an explosion left his face severely burned. He recovered fully and later told of how a fellow firefighter told doctors that “this was the best-looking fireman in the city before this happened and when you take those bandages off, he better still be the best-looking fireman,” said his son. Mr. Nolan returned to work and rose through the ranks, making captain as an instructor in the fire safety division and, finally, deputy district chief, a position he held until his retirement in 1984. His family, church and Irish heritage were most important to him, followed closely by golf, his son said. He was a 40-year resident of the Ashburn neighborhood before moving to Tinley Park in 1995. Mr. Nolan is also survived by his wife, Irene; three daughters, Maureen, Gwen Fialkowski and Patti Pantelis; a brother, Robert Nolan; and six grandchildren. Visitation will be held from 2 to 9 p.m. Friday at Robert J. Sheehy & Sons Funeral Home, 9000 W. 151st St., Orland Park. A mass will be said at 11:15 a.m. Saturday in St. Elizabeth Seton Church, 9300 W. 167th St., Orland Hills.
