Joseph F. Dolan, 88, of Dorchester, former longtime resident of Milton, died peacefully at his home following a brief illness, Thursday March 21, 2013.  Beloved husband of the late Virginia (O’Toole) Dolan, devoted father of William Dolan and his wife Jill of Marshfield, Terry Dolan of Dorchester, Martha Dolan Cosgrove and her husband Brian of Milton, the late Kathy (Dolan) Newberry, Tom Dolan and his wife Maura of Westboro, and Joe Dolan, Jr. of Milton. He is survived by five grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, many loving nieces and nephews, and many friends.  He attended Harvard College for one year, and was a proud graduate of the U.S. Naval  Academy, Class of 1946.  Following several years of active sea duty in both the Atlantic and Pacific fleets, he resigned his commission, and was recalled to active duty several years later during the Korean conflict.  A successful insurance executive, he founded the Dolan Insurance Agency in Westboro.  Active in civic and social causes, he served for many years as an elected Town Meeting member in Milton, and served as chair of the Town Insurance Committee.  He volunteered for 25 years at Haley House, a Catholic Worker community caring for the hungry and the homeless in the South End, and served on its Board of Directors.  He also served on the Board of Directors of the Milton Visiting Nurse Association.  Joe loved spending time by the ocean, both as a young man in Hull and later with his own family summering for many years in Scituate. Devoted to his immediate and extended family, he took enormous pleasure in the successes, achievements and events of their lives.  He was a loving father, who taught his children by example the virtues of honesty, hard work, patience, and the importance of a few good magic tricks.  In the last several months he completed a task that he started 10 years ago, writing his story, and life lessons learned, for the benefit of his family and their families. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in Saint Gregory Church, 2223 Dorchester Avenue, Dorchester, Monday March 25 at 10:00 AM. Relatives and friends invited. Visiting hours at Dolan Funeral Home, 460 Granite Avenue, EAST MILTON, Sunday 3-7 PM. Interment Milton Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donation may be made to Haley House, 23 Dartmouth Street, Boston, MA 02116 or the charity of your choice.