Walter Alves Nagel

Walter Alves Nagel Jr., 90, of Cherry Hills, CO, passed away on July 29, 2025, in Longmont, CO.

Born in New York City on February 9, 1935, Walter is the second child of Marylouise Cooper and Walter Alves Nagel Sr. Owing to his older sister, Carolyn's childish mispronunciation of 'brother', he was affectionately nicknamed 'Buz' by his family.

Walter obtained his bachelor's degree in Aeronautical Engineering from MIT where he was a member of the Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity. During the later part of his undergraduate education, he took a semester to study at the College of Aeronautics in Cranfield, England, on an MIT summer fellowship.

Upon graduation in 1957, he accepted a position with General Dynamics in Fort Worth, TX. During his tenure there, he was temporarily sent to work at Stanley Aviation in Denver where he collaborated with a team of engineers refining the B-58 Hustler ejection capsule. When back in Fort Worth, Walter earned his master's degree in engineering from Southern Methodist University (SMU) and met the love of his life, Carol "Sue" Conley. They had a whirlwind courtship, and after three weeks, Walter proposed. Three months later, they were married in Perkins Chapel on campus. They then set off via ocean liner for a honeymoon in Europe.

Once they returned home, Walter started a position at Schlumberger in Houston, TX and Walter and Sue started their family. After ten years in Houston, Walter accepted a position as a Petrophysicist at Marathon Oil's Research Center in Littleton. He and Sue enjoyed living in Cherry Hills for nearly 50 years, providing gracious hospitality to family and friends; and partaking in so many of the wonderful outdoor activities that Colorado has to offer. Walter had a passion for telemark skiing in the backcountry and hiking, but also enjoyed tamer pursuits such as mushroom hunting and birdwatching. From his grandmother, Walter cultivated a lifelong appreciation of classical music and opera. When in Texas, he spent many weekends racing sailboats in the Gulf of Mexico. When living in landlocked Colorado, he got his sailing fix by bareboat chartering with his family and friends in exotic locations. Walter gave back to his alma mater by serving as the president of the local branch of the MIT Alumni Club. He was also involved in the MIT Admissions Office interviewing prospective students.

Walter was preceded in death by his wife, Sue (2021), and his sister, Carolyn (2019), his sister-in-law, Judy Conley Talbot (2023) and brother-in-law, Milton Talbot (2009). He is survived by his brother-in-law, Frederic Kaufman; his children, Katherine Nagel Bryant of Longmont, Colorado; Drew Nagel (Carrie) of Mill Valley, CA; as well as grandchildren Emilie Bryant-Waas (Thomas Waas), Adrienne Bryant, Andrew Nagel Jr., and Peter Nagel.