Kenneth Nagel

Kenneth C. Nagel

A longtime resident of Lafayette, passed away on March 31st after a long battle with congestive heart failure. Ken was born on his family's farm in Idaho, in February, 1922, moving in the late 1920's to Berkeley where he attended elementary school. Ken's family subsequently moved to San Jose where he graduated from San Jose High School. At the onset of World War II, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps, becoming a C-46 pilot flying in Burma over the "Hump" carrying high octane gasoline to China. Later, with the Combat Cargo Command, he air-dropped essential logistical support to the British 14th Army making possible its re-conquest of Burma. Following the war, Ken graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, majoring in Business Administration and from the University of California, Berkeley Law School (Boalt Hall). After law school graduation he joined the Kings County California District Attorney's office where he was subsequently elected District Attorney. In 1956, Ken moved back to the Bay Area to join the firm of Pillsbury & Dunlap, later Pillsbury, Nagel & Atcheson, with whom he spent the balance of his legal career. He met his wife Susan when they were both at Boalt Hall and they were married for 58 years until her death two years ago. They have three children, Jennifer (Jim Kleckner), Robert (Laura), and Austin (Joan). There are six grandchildren. He was a proud father and grandfather, a member of the Bohemian Club (Old Guard), an avid reader, fantastic conversationalist and a valued friend to all who knew him. A celebration of Ken's life will be held at 3PM on April 26th at St. Stephens Episcopal Church, 66 St. Stephens Drive, Orinda.