DR. LARSANDEW DOLAN

Each year, a worthy individual is nominated by the Norwood Life Care Foundation Board of Directors to receive the coveted Dr. Larsandrew Dolan Award. The award honors the late Dr. Larsandrew Dolan. For 34 years, he served as Medical and Executive Director of Norwood Crossing until his retirement in 1985.

Dr. Dolan is remembered as the modern Board hero who, “had more to do with our transition into the 20th Century than anybody as far as health care and health care programs were concerned,” reported John Hanson, Sr. If not for Dr. Dolan, the 1960 building would not have been built. His priorities for adding on-site medical facilities prodded and prompted the Society to extend itself, to reach beyond the norm. His vision helped Norwood Crossing and the Society to maintain a balance, to keep their feet on the ground, through a flurry of new government regulation, financial challenges and building projects. From the 1975 building, through the renovations of the 1910 and 1924 buildings, the Society, under his guidance, made conscious decisions to step forward with modern, larger rooms and amenities.

A gifted physician, he was also responsible for raising considerable funds for the renovations and expansion of Norwood Crossing. In the 77th Annual Report (1973) Dr. Dolan wrote, “Progress is seldom accomplished without struggle, pain, dedication, vision and foresight, and a trust that asks the guidance of God. In our case, a bit of money would help too.”

Dr Dolan announced his plans to retire on November 1, 1985 . “I tried always to be responsive and find better ways of doing things, better methods of treatment of patients and better modes of operation,” he reminisced. “One has to be perceptive and flexible and responsive. You can’t stand still in medical practice or in life.”

On October 25, 1985, at the Scandinavian Club in Arlington Heights, members of the Norwegian Old Peoples Home Society (now Norwood Life Care Foundation) and Norwood Crossing, his wife Pauline, their four children and four grandchildren and many friends saluted Dr. Dolan’s 34 years of extraordinary service and his 75th birthday.

In 1997, the Dr. Larsandrew Dolan Award was established and it seemed only fitting that it should be presented each year at our premier fundraising event, the Annual Benefit Gala.