Sidney Nadolsky NADOLSKY - Sidney Nadolsky, age 95, died Wednesday, January 14, 2009, after a brief illness in Holland Hospital.
He is survived by his 3 children, David (Shanna) Nadolsky of Rogers City, Karl (Amy) Nadolsky of Holland, and Rosemary Nadolsky-Henning of Chicago; 6 grandchildren, David (Judy) Nadolsky of Sterling Heights, Erik (Amy) of Rogers City, Elizabeth (Todd) Hincka of Rogers City, Dr. Karl Nadolsky of Portsmouth, VA, Spencer Nadolsky of Blacksburg, VA, and Alexandra Sydney Henning of Chicago; 8 great-grandchildren; a sister-in-law, Jane Merren of Greenville; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 48 years, Virginia Nadolsky (1913-1987).
Born in New York City February 14, 1913, the son of Russian Jewish immigrants Louis and Rose (Belkin) Nadolsky, Sid primarily grew up and worked in Grand Rapids.
He graduated from Grand Rapids South High School in 1931 (a classmate of the late President Gerald Ford), serving as the class Poet Laureate in Perpetuity.
He attended Grand Rapids Junior College before going on the road as the bassist in a 12 piece swing band during the Big-Band era.
He married another 1931 South High graduate, Virginia Fisher, and together they raised their 3 children in Grand Rapids, where he was a long-standing member of the Grand Rapids Symphony and the Garfield Park Summer Orchestra, as well as conducting his own 5 piece dance band, The Sid Nadolsky Orchestra.
The group played regularly from the early 40s through the mid 70s at the Rowe Hotel, the Charcoal Inn of the Pantlind Hotel (now the Amway Grand Plaza), Sunshine Hospital and countless weddings and private parties.
Every New Year's Eve his band could be found playing dance music for the Grand Rapids Alcoholics Anonymous party.
He was a proud member of the American Federation of Musicians, the ACLU, the NAACP, Amnesty International, the Southern Poverty Law Center and Americans United for Separation of Church and State.
He was actively involved in the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s and, as a tireless advocate of peace, was staunchly opposed to the war in Viet Nam.
He performed in Grand Rapids Circle Theatre productions of "Call Me Madame" and "A Funny thing Happened on the Way to the Forum" before he and the late Mrs. Nadolsky moved to Rogers City in the late 70s.
While residing in Rogers City, Sid continued playing music for patients at the Rogers City Hospital and Tender Care; the Senior Citizens' Center; and various other Rogers City civic functions.
He worked in his son David's pharmacy until age 86 and spent as much time as possible cross-country skiing and, through the autumn of his 93rd year, playing tennis. He was a board member of the Presque Isle District Library; the Michigan Humanities Council; and active with the Rogers City Theatre, most recently revisiting his role as Erroneous in "A Funny Thing...Forum."
When interviewed by the Alpena News on the event of his 90th birthday, he was asked to reveal his secret to longevity and vitality. He quipped, "Pick your parents right."
Always an independent thinker with a profound commitment to social justice, he wrote a weekly topical poem (calling it "doggerel") for the Presque Isle County Advance and contributed generously to various social causes that champion the poor and the disenfranchised.
He moved to Holland, MI in July of 2008, where he lived with son Karl and Amy Nadolsky until his death January 14.
While residing in Holland, he remained physically active and mentally engaged by playing his bass; riding a stationary bicycle and lifting hand weights daily; reading voraciously; attending G.R. Symphony and Jazz Band concerts; avidly following the Beijing Olympic games and the 2008 presidential race.
On November 4, he was proud to cast his vote for Barack Obama.
He also enjoyed his final fall going sailing with family and delighting in the beauty of Western Michigan sunsets over Lake Michigan.
Sid and his joie de vivre will be dearly remembered and sorely missed.
The Nadolsky family welcomes memories and messages in their on-line registry at:
www.lakeshorememorial.com
Contributions may be made in Sid's name to the Grand Rapids Symphony, the Presque Isle District Library, or a charity of your choice.
A memorial celebration of his life is being planned and will take place this summer in Rogers City.
This Obituary appeared in the Grand Rapids Press