Michael Nolan Obituary, Death – Mike Nolan, a well-known sportscaster in Denver for the previous twenty-five years, passed away on Friday, November 25, 2022 in Santa Fe, New Mexico, following a brief bout with illness. He had reached the age of eighty-five. During his time in Denver, Mike Nolan was employed by both KMGH-Channel 7 and KBTV/KUSA-Channel 9 at various points in his career. In addition to that, he worked as a radio play-by-play announcer for a variety of college and professional teams, such as Colorado State University, the University of Wyoming, the United States Air Force Academy, and the Denver Gold of the United States Football League.
As Denver developed into a major sports city, Mike was there to help guide fans. Throughout the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, and into the early 2000s, he reported on the establishment of major league baseball, the departure (and return) of the National Hockey League, multiple Super Bowl and Stanley Cup championships, and countless other games and events at every level. Mike was a sportscaster who had a dry sense of humor and hailed from the “old school.”
He served as a guide and advisor to a large number of young journalists and interns, many of whom went on to become some of the most successful professionals in the industry. Mike is the recipient of a number of awards, one of which is “Colorado Sportscaster of the Year.” He was very pleased to wear the Broncos jersey that had been presented to him by Mike Shanahan, the former coach of the Broncos, and which bore the number “40” to commemorate the fortieth year of his career in broadcasting.
Mike was the son of Geraldine and Ralph Nolan and was given the name Ralph Michael Nolan when he was born in Buffalo, New York. Canisius High School was his alma mater, and he graduated there. After that, Mike did his time in the United States Air Force for a total of four years. He attended Michigan State University, and for the rest of his life he remained a dedicated alumnus, fan, and booster of the university’s athletic programs.
Mike’s early career was established in East Lansing, Michigan, and he later relocated to Grand Rapids, where he worked as a radio broadcaster for Michigan State University football games. He worked as a play-by-play announcer for the Buffalo Bisons baseball team during his brief tenure at WBEN Buffalo. At the beginning of the 1970s, he held the primary sports anchor position at WGR-TV in Buffalo. Mike was an anchor for WLS-TV in Chicago on the weekends from 1975 until 1978. After working for another short stint at WPLG in Miami, he eventually made Denver his permanent home.
In 2006, Mike moved his retirement to Santa Fe, and he got married in 2008. He had a lot of fun meeting up with new people who had the same interest in sports as he did and playing golf with them. He would spend the winters in Scottsdale, Arizona, where he could take his cherished dog Teddy out for a walk first thing in the morning.
The strongest bonds that Mike created among his children are what they will carry forward in their laughter and great stories to keep his memory alive. This was Mike’s greatest gift to his family. Mike’s parents, his sister Mary Phyllis Nolan (also known as Sister Michael of the Sacred Heart), his sister-in-law Karen Nolan, and his step-son Steve Russell all passed away before him.
Dee Russell of Santa Fe, Mike Nolan’s wife, is the only person who will remember him after his passing. daughter Amy (Sean) McGlynn of Powhatan, Virginia, stepdaughter Leslie Khodjasarian of Shadow Hills, California, and sons Mark (Stacy) Nolan and Peter (Dominique) Nolan both of Denver, Colorado; son Joseph (Stephanie) Nolan of Glen Allen, Virginia; stepdaughter Leslie Khodjasarian of Glen Allen, Virginia; He is also survived by his brother,
Peter Nolan, as well as six of his nieces and nephews, including Christine (Marvin) Mazzucchelli and Mary Nolan of Glenview, Illinois, Cara (Todd) Lanscioni of Golf, Illinois, Patrick (Heidi) Nolan of Cedarburg, Wisconsin, Matthew (Trina) Nolan of Appleton, Wisconsin, and Steve (Jennifer) Nolan of Glencoe, Illinois. Jack Nolan, Charlie Nolan, and Olivia Nolan were Mike’s grandchildren, and he was very proud of all five of them. Mike also had two step-grandchildren, and he was proud of them as well (Ian and Lucia Khodjasarian). Additionally, Mike leaves behind 15 grand-nieces and grand-nephews.
On the 16th of December, at 10:00 in the morning, there will be a memorial mass held in Santa Fe at St. Anne’s Parish. In January of 2023, there will be a second memorial service held in Denver in honor of Mike. The date and location of this event have not yet been determined.