Joseph Francis Dolan

Joseph Francis Dolan, a distinguished astronomer, beloved educator and devoted father and grandfather, who passed away peacefully on March 1, 2026, in San Diego, California. Born on September 17, 1939, in Rochester, New York, Joseph’s life was marked by a breadth and depth of rich intellectual and academic life.  

Joseph graduated from St. Bonaventure University and then earned his PhD in astrophysics from Harvard University. After graduation, he worked for many years at Case University (now Case Western) in Ohio. He then joined the civil service for decades at NASA in Greenbelt, Maryland, where he contributed significantly to the Hubble Space Telescope High Speed Photometer and advancing our scientific understanding of space. 

Following his retirement, Joseph continued to inspire countless students as an adjunct professor at San Diego State University in the Astronomy Department. Unusual for scientists, Joseph had a particular gift for teaching and communication; he was often sought out for conferences and lectures, including a presentation on the physics of how the Tardis worked at a Doctor Who convention.  

In his spare time, Joseph for decades read for the blind on public radio and served as a lector at the Mission Basilica in San Diego, California.  

Joseph is survived by his daughter, Lee Marie Dolan (Mark); his son, John Dolan (Logan); and his grandson, Oliver Lambourne.  He was preceded in death by his parents, Edwin and Virginia Dolan, and his siblings Barbara, Larry, and Betty. He is also survived by many beloved nieces and extended family. Their memories remain an integral part of Joseph’s story.

Services will be held at the Mission Basilica in San Diego, California on Monday, March 16, 2026.  A reception will follow in the La Sala room, followed by interment at Holy Cross Cemetery in San Diego, California.