Joseph A Nagy

During the century that he lived, Joseph Nagy checked all the boxes. 

He served his country in World War II, then went to Japan after the war ended to help to ensure the peace. A family man, he was a source of support and counsel for his wife and children, as well as other relatives. In business, he was a mentor to many and carved a successful career.

He also was a pillar of his beloved community of Fanwood, N.J., where he lived for 60 years. An avid volunteer, he cheerfully gave his time and effort for everything from a scholarship foundation to the borough Historic Preservation Commission, as well as helping establish the local cable access TV station to keep residents informed.

He was active in his church, St. Bartholomew the Apostle in Scotch Plains, where he served as a member of the Holy Name Society as well as the parish financial committee and was recognized as an honoree of the Knights and Dames.

When he died at age 100 on May 15, there was nothing he had left undone. From humble roots, he built a life that included a host of friends and made things better for so many people with whom he came in contact. As noted in an article about him published in the Fanwoodian, the borough newsletter, "If you live in Fanwood, you've probably been touched by something good done by Joe Nagy."

Born in 1923 to Hungarian immigrants in the Fords section of Woodbridge Township, as a teenager he sold blocks of ice and bags of coal during the Depression. He went into the U.S. Army in 1942, two years after his graduation from Woodbridge High School, and a year after the U.S. entered World War II.

He entered the service as an enlisted man, was selected to attend Officer Candidate School in late 1944 and then commissioned as an officer at the Armored School, Ft. Knox, Ky., in March 1945. 

He served in the U.S. occupation forces in Japan, where he was moved by a visit to Hiroshima when he saw the devastation wrought by the atomic bomb, calling it "one of the most sobering experiences" of his life. 

Upon his discharge from active duty in 1946, he joined the Army Reserve, retiring with the rank of major in 1966. In civilian life, Mr. Nagy attended Rutgers University on the G.I. Bill, receiving a marketing certificate, then went to work at Sears Roebuck and Co.  From there, he began a 34-year career with the Bamberger's division of Macy's department store. He helped pioneer the use of computer technology for merchandising information, retiring in 1988 as vice president for merchandise control at Macy's/Bamberger's. During his time as an executive, he served as a board member and volunteer consultant for the Interracial Council for Business Opportunity. It's also worth noting that over 45 years, he did not miss a single day of work due to sickness.

Honored as the Grand Marshal of the 2017 Fanwood/Scotch Plains Memorial Day Parade, he considered his volunteer work his third career, after the Army and his business involvement. 

He was incredibly generous with his time and enjoyed giving it, tirelessly serving a whole host of causes and organizations. His roles included the presidency of the Scotch Plains Fanwood Parent Teachers Association, co-authoring "Images of Fanwood," a pictorial history of the borough and chairing the Robert Treat Council of the Boy Scouts of America in Newark. He organized reunions of his high school class and was one of the founders of the Macy's Dinosaurs, a club for the department store's retirees.

Fanwood Mayor Colleen Mahr called Mr. Nagy, "a significant piece of our town and we are so incredibly grateful for his contributions and having him in our lives."

He kept busy in many ways aside from his volunteer role. Active in local political campaigns, he enjoyed wood-working and was an avid reader of non-fiction, particularly historical biographies. He also enjoyed leisure travel, both domestic and international, with his wife, Claire, and often with family and friends, in addition to relishing summer visits to his children’s lake homes in New Jersey and Maine.

Joan Skubish, chairman of the Fanwood Historic Preservation Commission, heard from dozens of people after they learned of Mr. Nagy's passing.

"The word 'exceptional' came up a lot, as well as 'great man' and 'extraordinary,' " she related.

"He was just the kindest person. He loved the town." 

She mentioned that he was known for his repertoire of corny jokes.

"He had such a sense of humor," she said. "A lot of his jokes were from the past, but they were new to the children who toured the (borough) museum. He would always start the tours with a joke."

Mr. Nagy is survived by his wife of 74 years, Claire; their daughter, Susan Calabrese (Gary), and sons Dennis (Cilla) and Lawrence (Nancy); three grandchildren, Colin Calabrese, Carolyn Calabrese Sweeney (Scott) and Matthew Nagy (Katie). Other survivors are his great-granddaughters Cora, Eve and Delaney Sweeney,  and his sister, Bertha Mika.

Visitation will be from 2-5 p.m. May 22 at Rossi Funeral Home, 1937 Westfield Ave., Scotch Plains. A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 10 a.m. May 23 at St. Bartholomew the Apostle Roman Catholic Church, 2032 Westfield Ave., Scotch Plains. Entombment will follow at St. Gertrude Cemetery in Colonia.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Mr. Nagy's memory may be made to the Scotch Plains-Fanwood Scholarship Foundation which he served as treasurer and a trustee.

https://spfscholarshipfoundation.org

https://stbartholomewchurch.org/livestream-mass