On Dec. 26, 2019, Anne Dolan passed away suddenly due to complications from pneumonia at the age of 48. She is survived by her husband of 24 years, Aaron, son Andrew, 19, daughter Kathryn, 16, her parents, Karen and Dick Salway, brother Rick and her 3 nieces. Not only was she a mother, daughter and wife, but she was a sister, aunt, cousin, coworker, employer, boss, and a dear friend.
To those who don’t know, Anne S. Dolan was the facility manager at the Cranford Pools and Fitness Center, Orange Avenue pool and Centennial Avenue pool. She knew every single member there by name and greeted all of them with a smile. She taught children how to swim as she was very passionate about preventing drowning. She also hired many of her friends’ children to work at the pool, with the positions ranging from lifeguards to desk attendants.
Although she was basically the A-List celebrity of Cranford, her influence has reached out to other towns as well. Some of her employees, members, and clients come from many different towns, including Scotch Plains. Global Perspectives teacher Ryan McKenna also knew Mrs. Dolan, as she taught his daughter swim lessons.
“I wanted Anne to give [my daughter] swim lessons because I know how deeply she cared for her students and how wonderful a teacher she was in the water,” McKenna said.
Her wake was held on Dec. 30th at the Dooley Funeral Home on North Avenue from 4:00 to 8:00 PM. The line coming out from the front doors of the building stretched almost to the nearest traffic light, which was about a block away. Many had to be patient as they waited well over two hours to say their final goodbyes.
After the mass at St. Michael’s for her funeral on Dec. 31, the hearse made a pit stop at the Centennial Avenue pool instead of heading straight to the graveyard. Chosen lifeguards who worked with her, donned in red lifeguard sweatshirts over their suits and dresses, surrounded her coffin and blew the air horns, which were used to signal emergencies in the pools, for the last time.
“She ran a tight ship at the pool and was very serious when it came to the safety of the patrons and her staff,” McKenna said, “she was a joyous person that loved her children, her town and made everyone feel relaxed when you were with her.”