The Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) Board of Trustees, faculty, and staff mourn the passing of Charles “Chuck” Dolan, Honorary Trustee of the Laboratory and enthusiastic supporter of science education at CSHL. Chuck was elected to the CSHL Board of Trustees in 1990 and served as chairman of the Finance & Investment Committee from 1990-1992. He and his late wife Helen were named honorary trustees in 2003 and were presented the Double Helix Medals in 2017 in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the Laboratory.
As a giant and pioneer in the world of cable TV, Chuck understood better than anyone the power of connection. One of the Dolans’ first major contributions to CSHL helped establish a much-needed residence hall on campus. Dolan Hall has enabled thousands of visiting students and scientists to stay at the Laboratory while participating in the CSHL Meetings & Courses Program and collaborating with researchers here. The Dolan Family Foundation funded a significant expansion of CSHL’s DNA Learning Center, providing tens of thousands of elementary, middle, and high school students the opportunity to conduct hands-on experiments here in Cold Spring Harbor. Today, the Dolan DNA Learning Center is a model for public genetics education worldwide.
In establishing the Dolan Family Foundation and the Dolan Children’s Foundation, Chuck and Helen created a philanthropic legacy that supports numerous New York institutions. Chuck was co-founder and Chairman Emeritus of the Lustgarten Foundation, the largest private funder of pancreatic cancer research today, which continues to be an important partner with CSHL.
While Chuck was a distinguished businessman and philanthropist, he will be remembered at CSHL for his incredible vision in supporting both the programs and places necessary for research and education to thrive. In addition to providing crucial financial support for Laboratory programs, he was generous with his time and counsel. Chuck and Helen were also wonderful community leaders, hosting events at their Oyster Bay Cove estate and supporting many organizations that benefited Long Island.
The Laboratory expresses its deepest sympathy to the Dolan family.
— Bruce Stillman, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory President & CEO, and Marilyn Simons, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Board of Trustees Chair