Philip F Nolan III

Philip Nolan III, “The Mayor of Ashfield,” passed away on February 10th, 2026, in the loving home he shared with his wife Melissa and dog Sophie.

Phil was born October 27th, 1958 to Philip Jr. and Ardis and was a lifelong resident of Ashfield, MA, attending Sanderson Academy, MTRHS, and later graduating from GCC. He worked as a land surveyor, but found his calling in 1988 as an attendant of the Ashfield Town Dump where he was always eager to greet everyone in town with a smile and a handshake. Phil was a true townie and fixture of Ashfield, often being seen around town with a Diet Coke in hand. He expressed his unique humor and creativity as a cartoonist with his works occasionally being printed in the Ashfield News as well as self-publishing a comic book on recycling which he distributed to local refuse centers. Phil was also an avid musician and loved to perform at open mic nights in the area, often with his band the Dumpsters.

He is survived by his wife Melissa, his son Philip IV, his mother Ardis, his stepmother Doreen, his aunts Mary, Katy, Judy, Carolyn, and LucyAnn, his siblings Ed, Jackie, and Anne; nieces and nephews Max, Lucy, Charlotte, Theodore, Meghan, Molly, Evan, Chris, and Emily; as well as a new generation of his beloved family in Nolan and Olivia.

A memorial service will be held on February 21st at Smith-Kelleher Funeral Home in Shelburne Falls at 1PM, with a burial at the Plain Cemetery in Ashfield to take place in the spring.

You can honor Phil by sending flowers to Smith-Kelleher Funeral Home or by donating in Phil's memory to Hilltown Churches Food Pantry, PO Box 161, Ashfield, MA 01330

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