Felix A. Nigro

Athens - Felix A. Nigro. Ph.D. Born August 8, 1914 in Brooklyn, New York; died September 5, 2007 in Athens, Georgia, of complications from pneumonia. The son of Vincent Nigro, Sr., and Katherine Tempone Nigro, Professor Nigro did his undergraduate studies at the University of Wisconsin at Madison, where he graduated Phi Beta Kappa, and earned his PH.D. in Political Science from the same university in 1948. A pioneering scholar in Public Administration, he had a distinguished career working with the Federal National Youth Administration and other federal agencies. He worked extensively in Latin America, for private industry, the State Department and the United Nations, in Venezuela, Uruguay, El Salvador and Costa Rica. He twice held teaching positions at the University of Puerto Rico. After returning permanently to the United States in 1957, Professor Nigro taught at Southern Illinois University, San Diego State University and the University of Delaware, where he held a distinguished professorship. He joined the Political Science faculty at the University of Georgia in 1969. He was the author of many articles and several of the most important textbooks in the field. He retired in 1982 as Professor Emeritus. The following three years he was Visiting Professor at Ryder College in Lawrenceville, New Jersey; from 1985 to 1992 he was a labor relations arbitrator. Among Professor Nigro's many recognitions was his inclusion in the International Who's Who and his election to the National Academy of Public Administration. Professor Nigro is survived by the former Edna H. Nelson, his devoted wife of 69 years, who was pivotal in his many successes, his constant
companion and the light of his life. Other survivors include son, Lloyd G. Nigro and daughter-in-law, Carol, of Atlanta; daughter, Kirsten F. Nigro and son-in-law, David Saile of El Paso, Texas; grandchildren, Michael Nigro of Atlanta, Kimberly Nigro Van Etten and husband, Robert, of Atlanta, Megan Saile of Cincinnati, Ohio; and great-granddaughter, Amberly Van Etten. An ardent fan of the New York and later San Francisco Giants since 1923, he never gave up hope that they would once again be baseball's powerhouse. Felix A. Nigro was a quiet, thoughtful man who meant everything to his family. We shall miss him very much. He can be remembered with contributions to the Alzheimer's Association or UGA's School of Public and International Affairs' Clute/Nigro Fund (706-542-2059).