VERY REV RICHARD JOSEPH NAGLE, O. CARM. West Palm Beach, Fla.

Very Rev. Richard Joseph Nagle, O. Carm., a member of the Order of Carmelites and of the North American Province of St. Elias, died at the Noreen McKeen Nursing Home in West Palm Beach, Florida on Monday, April 29, 2002 following a long illness. He was 91 years old. Father Nagle was born in the Bronx, New York on June 17, 1911 to Richard J. and Elizabeth Fischer Nagle. His parents, brother, John J. Nagle and his sister, Mary A. Nagle Wallenberg all pre-deceased him. He is survived by nephews and nieces.

Father Nagle received his habit in the Order of Carmelites, in June of 1932 in Kinsale, Ireland when he entered the Carmelite Novitiate. Following his Novitiate year he professed First Vows on October 25, 1933 in Kinsale and then began his philosophy and Theology studies in Rome, Italy. He professed his Solemn Vows of Obedience, Poverty and Chastity on October 26, 1936 and was ordained to the priesthood on July 11, 1937 in Rome, Italy.

Following his ordination to the priesthood, Father Nagle returned to the United States to begin his ministry. He began his teaching career at Mt. Carmel High School in Los Angeles, California in 1938 and also served as its Athletic Coach and Director. In 1947 he moved from California to New York City, residing at Our Lady of the Scapular Priory on East 28^th Street while working as the Head Chaplain at Bellevue Hospital until 1952. During this time in New York City, Father Nagle also served the Province of St. Elias as its Vocation Director. In 1952, he was transferred to St. Albert’s Junior Seminary where he taught and continued to serve as the Province’s Vocation Director until his next transfer to St. Simon Stock Church in the Bronx in 1958. He served in the Bronx parish until 1961 when he was elected the Prior Provincial of the St. Elias Province.

He was re-elected to the same position 3 years in 1964 but had his term interrupted when he was elected as the Assistant General of the Order of Carmelites with responsibilities as the Bursar General of the Order. He lived in Rome, Italy during this time. At the conclusion of his term as Assistant General in 1971, Father Nagle returned to ministry in the St. Elias Province and served as Chaplain at the Ferncliff Nursing Home, for the Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm, in Rhinebeck, NY until 1984.

For the next two years, until 1986, Father Nagle continued to work as Chaplain at the Carmelite Sister’s Pennsylvania and Lourdes Nursing Homes in West Palm Beach, Florida. Retirement came in 1986, but Father Nagle wasn’t ready to retire, in that sense of the word. Asked to assist in raising funds to help defray costs of the newly-renovated St. Albert’s Priory, where the Province’s retired Carmelites came to reside, Father Nagle re-connected with the alumni from Mt. Carmel High School in Los Angeles. He was encouraged to begin a Golf Tournament as a method of fundraising, and thus began his fundraising programs called ”The Padre Golf Tournaments.” Beginning in California, and followed by tournaments in Florida and Middletown, New York, Father Nagle successfully raised funds for the benefit of the Retired Carmelite Friars of the St. Elias Province over a 15-year period in the California, Florida and Middletown, NY Padre Golf Tournament.

His energy, enthusiasm and positive attitude is unmatched by anyone and he will be sorely missed. The wake will be held at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Mount Carmel on Carmelite Drive in Middletown, New York on Thursday, May 2, 2002 from 2:00-5:00 p.m. and from 7:00-9:00 p.m. A prayer service will be held at 8:00 p.m. The Mass of Christian Burial will be held at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Mount Carmel at St. Albert’s on Carmelite Drive in Middletown, New York on Friday, May 3, 2002 at 11 a.m. Very Rev. Michael T. Driscoll, O. Carm., Prior Provincial of the St. Elias Province, will officiate. Burial will be in the Carmelite Cemetery on Carmelite Drive in Middletown, New York. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Carmelite Retirement Fund, P.O., Box 868, Carmelite Drive, Middletown, New York 10940. Funeral arrangements under the direction of Applebee-McPhillips Funeral Home Inc., Middletown.