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The Greater Jamestown Riverwalk bike path will now serve as part of the legacy of longtime City Councilman Anthony Dolce.
The city will rename the path in Dolce's memory during a public ceremony on Thursday, Oct. 15, at 3:30 p.m. The community is invited to join Dolce's family, friends, fellow public servants, colleagues, and community members as the city dedicates the Riverwalk Bike Path in his memory. Those attending should enter the riverwalk using the Eighth Street entrance.
Dolce passed away unexpectedly in July, following more than three decades of dedicated service to the city. He served on the Jamestown City Council for more than 30 years, including as council president, while also spending more than three decades as a teacher at Jamestown High School.
Dolce is a lifelong resident of Jamestown, graduating from Jamestown High School and also teaching there for over 35 years as a government and economics teacher. Dolce has been active in multiple other places in the community, including his church; Holy Apostles Parish, and multiple boards and commissions such as the YMCA board, the Lakeview Cemetery board and Board of Public Utilities Board of Directors. Dolce also serves on the Jamestown Local Development Corporation, and JURA. He is an active runner in the community, helping to raise money for causes and charities over the years. He also served as an assistant coach of the Jamestown High School cross country team and was a coach for the JHS baseball team.
"Tony was a very special friend to me, and I feel incredibly fortunate to have had the opportunity to serve alongside him for over two decades on City Council," said Mayor Kimberly A. Ecklund. "Throughout those years, we shared countless meetings, difficult decisions, good conversations and, of course, plenty of laughs. Tony brought a calm, thoughtful presence to every conversation. He listened carefully, considered different perspectives, and had a remarkable ability to bring people together. Those qualities served him well in public service, but they also made him the kind of person people trusted and valued.
His connection to Jamestown reached far beyond City Hall and the classroom. Dolce coached baseball and cross country, served on numerous community boards and organizations, and gave his time generously to the city he called home. Dolce was known for his calm demeanor and thoughtful approach. He listened, considered different perspectives, and had a way of bringing people together -- qualities that made him such a valued colleague, friend, and community leader. Dolce was heavily involved in the push to save SS. Peter and Paul after the church was scheduled to close by the Buffalo Diocese of the Catholic Church,
Ecklund said Dolce's love of running makes the Riverwalk a particularly meaningful place to honor his memory. It was a place he enjoyed.
"Over more than two decades of working together, Tony became someone I came to know not only as a trusted colleague, but as a dear friend," Dolce said. "Tony loved Jamestown and gave so much of his life to this community. His legacy can be seen in the generations of students he taught and coached, in the many years he dedicated to City Council and in the countless people he helped along the way. "He loved to run and enjoyed the Riverwalk, which makes this tribute particularly meaningful. I hope that when people see Tony's name along this path, they remember the life he lived, the difference he made and the love he had for Jamestown. We feel Tony's absence every day, and I know I will always be grateful for the friendship, memories, and years of service we shared. His legacy will remain a part of Jamestown for generations to come."