Monsignor William A. Nagle

Nagle, Monsignor William A
Monsignor William A Nagle entered into eternal rest on April 25, 2013 at the age of 89. Monsignor Nagle was predeceased by his parents Harold E. Nagle and Anne Lowe Nagle, and his great nephew, Special Warfare Operator (SEAL) Brian R Bill.
He is survived by his brother John A. Nagle, MD and his wife Mary, his sister Betty Nagle Hardiman, 12 nephews and nieces, Patricia Parry (Michael), Anne Goebel (Jim), Sharon Davis, Rev. Deacon Thomas Davis (Joanne), Maureen Davis, Mary Sikes (John), Jeffrey Davis, John A. Nagle, Jr. (Debbie), Jeffrey Nagle (Kelly), Brian Nagle (Kathleen), Kathleen Coffey (Michael), Kerry Nagle, 27 great nieces and nephews, and 3 great grandnieces.
Bill, as he was known to his large family of relatives and friends, was born in Hartford, Connecticut on June 1, 1923. He entered St. Thomas Seminary at the age of 13. He completed his high school education and continued for his first two years of college at St Thomas. He won a scholarship to attend Catholic University in Washington D.C. where he was a Theodore Basselin scholar graduating in 1945 with a Bachelors Degree and two Masters Degrees. His masters degrees were in Philosophy and Theology (STL). He returned to St. Thomas Seminary in Bloomfield where he served as Deacon Prefect before his ordination.
Msgr. Nagle was ordained by Bishop Henry J. O'Brien in Hartford CT on May 26, 1949. His assignments included St. Bernard in Sharon, Holy Family in Fairfield, St. Joseph in Shelton, Sacred Heart in Georgetown, St. Joseph in Norwalk, and St. John in Noroton. He served as Vicar of Vicariate I for the Diocese of Bridgeport and resided at St. Aloysius in New Canaan before receiving his last two assignments at St. Bridget of Ireland and St. John the Evangelist in Stamford, CT. While at St. Bernard his friendship with Mrs. Buckley led to a lifelong friendship with her son William F. Buckley, Jr. Msgr. Nagle was the quintessential Catholic priest who loved God and his family. While each of Bill's assignments was near and dear to his heart, his last two assignments at St. Bridget and St. John were particularly meaningful as these were both parishes that his parents belonged to. His parents joined St. John in 1926 and moved to St. Bridget when the parish was created.
Msgr. Nagle also served as Chaplain to many organizations including the Ancient Order of Hibernians, the Knights of Columbus (where he was a 4th Degree Knight), Stamford and Darien Police Department, Stamford and Darien Fire Department, and the Stamford Yacht Club. He was the AOH Grand Marshall of the St. Patrick's Day Parade on several occasions. Msgr. Nagle was especially grateful for the opportunity to embrace the Haitian community in Stamford for whom he established a special Sunday Mass in French.
Following his retirement in 1988, Bill became one of the first residents to live at Catherine Keefe Queen of the Clergy Retirement Home for Priests. He continued to serve as a visiting priest in neighboring parishes for many years.
Calling hours will be held at The Basilica of St. John the Evangelist 279 Atlantic St Stamford, CT on Tuesday April 30, 2013 from 2:30 PM to 6:30 PM. Wake service will begin at 6:30 PM followed by Holy Mass at 7 PM. A Mass of Christian Burial will be at Basilica of St John on Wednesday May 1, 2013 at 10 AM and interment will follow at St. John's Cemetery in Darien.
In lieu of flowers, memoriald Donations can be made in Msgr. Nagle's memory to St. John the Evangelist Church, 279 Atlantic Street, Stamford, CT (www. stjohnsstamford.com) or to a non-profit organization founded in memory of his great nephew Navy SEAL Brian R. Bill called The Little Warriors A Brian Bill Project (www.navyseallittlewarriors.org). Arrangements entrusted to Leo P. Gallagher & Son Funeral Home, Stamford. www.leopgallagherstamford.com