Last month, the EUSJA community was saddened to learn that former Vice-President Anna Nolan had passed away. Viola Egikova remembers her.
This summer the EUSJA family suffered a big loss: our dear friend, Anna Nolan passed away on 30th June 2025 after a hard and long illness that she was fighting courageously and persistently.
For many of us her passing was unexpected news: Anna tried not to talk about her problems, only her closest knew that she was seriously ill. She tried to communicate and to stay active as long as she could. She continued to respond when her advice, her knowledge, her understanding of the situation were needed. So it was natural that almost all the sorrowful responses to the news of her death, which began to come from the people who knew her well, contained such wise and friendly words.
“She had always the sweetest heart and smartest head” (Isvan Palugiai)
“EUSJA would not be the success that it is without her hard work, warmth and generosity” (Fintan Burke)
“Anna has always been a strong personality in EUSJA. But more important is that she was a dear friend” (Kaianders Sempler)
“Unique person, great colleague & friend” (Wolfgang Goede)
“She will always be in my memories and I am happy that I had the privilege to be her friend” (Raili Leino), “I remember Anna as a wise and sympathetic lady. She had always something clever to say” (Vesa Niininkangas)
“So many good conversations with her that I will remember, as well as her EUSJA newsletters” (Hajo Neubert)
“Anna will remain in my heart forever” (Marina Huzvarova)
“Anna was a very nice, wise, helpful person…” (Merce Piqueras)
“She will be remembered as knowledgeable and insightful and those who worked together with her felt privileged to receive her advice” (Jens Degett)
“We will remember Anna in our heart” (Cinzia Boschiero)
“She was a strong person and a wonderful journalist and it was always a pleasure to talk to her” (Antonio Calvo Roy)
“She was such a lovely person, truly devoted to EUSJA, always enthusiastic, welcoming and ready to do her best for our profession. We will all miss her a lot” (Ricardo Garcia)…
And these are only a small part of the farewell words!
Anna was a long-standing member of the EUSJA, its former Vice-President, she was the editor of the EUSJA Newsletter for many years and the National delegate from the Irish Association of Science and Technology Journalists. Until the end of her strength she showed devotion to the profession to which she dedicated her life. After getting a primary degree in maths and physics and later a master’s degree in science and communication, Anna continued with different learning programmes improving her skills and expanding her knowledge.
No wonder she was one of the most respected science journalists in her country who contributed to many leading media. Suffice to say she was one of the very few Irish journalists to be accredited to attend a space launch by NASA and the European Space Agency. Anna worked for science and technology, but she also was fond of art, loved music, especially opera. She was always ready for traveling and was fascinated by the culture of different countries.
As it was already mentioned Anna was a good friend. And she was a beloved wife for her husband Richard and loving mother for her daughter Aisling. Both of them stayed aside with her until the end. And they firmly fulfilled her last request: Anna asked that there be no sad music, no sad words when saying goodbye. She loved Life, she loved good jokes.
So it will be natural to add in this article a photo of smiling Anna. The shot was done in 2008 in Strasbourg after the EUSJA General Assembly. We were having fun, laughing and enjoying the company of each other. Let us remember Anna’s smile, her kindness and wisdom. She will stay in our hearts forever.
And more. There was a great idea of the EUSJA Board to establish a grant named after Anna Nolan for young science journalists. It’s not easy, but let’s think about it.