In Memoriam: Longtime Rumsonite Jim Dolan, 84

Longtime Rumsonite Jim Dolan passed away in his home on Aug. 29 after a courageous three-year battle with cancer. He was 84.

Throughout this time Jim showed the same strengths he displayed during his 84 years of life — namely, extraordinary courage, commitment, humility, intelligence and positivity.

Jim was born in Providence, RI in 1942 and raised in Lynn, MA, where he met and married his wife Paula of nearly 60 years in 1966.

“Jim was an avid reader of history and mysteries and a accumulator of knowledge and loved to share it with family and all others who would listen. Jim loved to travel and he and Paula travelled the world to numerous places together and with family and friends.

“Most importantly, and in particular in the last decades of his life, Jim was an avid and active supporter in the lives of all his children and grandchildren and their activities and interests. He and Paula were active participants in many varied vacations all together or with portions of the family in numerous far-flung places — no adventure or challenge was beyond his interest.

“As examples, he climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro, Mt. Fuji and walked a long stretch of the Camino de Santiago in Spain. A few years back he and Paula got the chance to spend 45 days in Antarctica, which checked off his visiting all seven continents (countries visited number well over 100) — an important milestone for a lifetime sailor and traveler.”
Loved ones of Jim Dolan in his obituary

More about Jim Dolan from his obituary …

Jim’s long and distinguished career in maritime began with graduation from Massachusetts Maritime Academy in 1962, where he earned a degree in Marine and Electrical Engineering. He sailed as an engineer for American Export-Isbrandtsen for five years and earned his U.S. Coast Guard Chief Engineer’s license during this time.

In 1967 Jim joined the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) where he worked for the next 26 years ascending to increasingly senior roles within ABS before reaching the position of Senior Vice President in 1987. A large portion of Jim’s time with ABS included postings in various U.S. port cities and abroad, including Taiwan, Japan and the United Kingdom.

“Jim took Paula and their four children, Greg, Mike, Heather and Erin (born in Yokohama, Japan), around the world during this time and this shaped his and their appreciation of a broader world and cultures. This was also the time where Jim built his global network and knowledge of the maritime industry, and he became a world-renowned expert for classification societies, shipowners, and underwriters.”

In 1993, Jim retired from ABS and started a second career as a partner at Martin and Ottaway (previously Martin, Ottaway, van Hemmen & Dolan) where he spent the next 33 years and continued to actively work until his death. Jim spent his years with Martin & Ottaway consulting as a regulatory expert and serving as an expert witness with the company’s increasing involvement in maritime environmental issues representing shipowners, insurers, and the U.S. Department of Justice. In 2000, Jim became president and managing partner and served in that role until 2011 at which point he stepped down and continued to focus on his consulting for the company.

Jim served on a number on international maritime organizations and committees, including the International Maritime Organization (IMO) for more than 45 years. He also published many articles related to the regulations in the maritime industry.

Jim and Paula were both active participants with the Salesians of Don Bosco order of the Roman Catholic Church, and he served in several different roles in service of that organization.

Jim is survived by: his wife Paula; his four children, Greg, Mike, Heather and Erin, and their spouses Alicia, Linda, Jeffrey and George; 10 grandchildren, Charles, Margie, Caitlin, Sean, Marilou, Kiera, Lillian, Alanna, Adeline and Samantha; and his sister, Maryann Byrne of Lynn, MA.

In lieu of flowers the family has requested that donations in his memory be made to the Salesian Formation Community, c/o Don Bosco Residence, 518 B Valley Street, Orange, NJ 07050.

Jim’s funeral mass will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 8. 2026 at 10:30 a.m. at Our Lady of Perpetual Help, 141 Navesink Avenue, Highlands.

— Edited obituary prepared by family via John E. Day Funeral Home