The Rev. George O. Nagle

The Rev. George Overholser Nagle passed out of this life on January 25, 2025, following a brief illness. Born on March 1, 1936, exactly nine months after his parents’ wedding day, he was the son of Warren T. Nagle and Elizabeth (Overholser) Nagle. He grew up in Reading PA, where he learned to love the wilderness through the Boy Scouts, and throughout his life he enjoyed hiking, canoeing, kayaking, cross-country skiing, and camping. He attended Cornell University and first studied physics, then philosophy, and eventually theology in his search for answers to life’s Big Questions. It was at Cornell that George met the love of his life, Margo, whom he married in 1959. 

He attended Berkeley Divinity School at Yale from 1957 to 1960, graduating with a Masters of Divinity. He served as deacon at Christ Episcopal Church in Clayton NY before being ordained priest and serving Christ Church in Jordan NY from 1961 to 1967. While there, he helped the church grow from a mission congregation to a self-supporting parish. In 1965, George traveled to Selma AL with other Episcopal clergy to march for civil rights with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.; his participation in the event got him arrested. From 1967 to 1974, George served as rector at St. Stephen’s Church in New Hartford NY, where he shepherded the congregation through revisions to the Book of Common Prayer. He also attended summer courses during those years at the University of the South in Sewanee TN, earning a Masters of Sacred Theology in 1972. 

In 1974, he moved his family to Saranac Lake to help establish the Adirondack Park Agency, part of his desire to protect what he saw as one of the most beautiful places in the world. Later he became a chaplain for the New York State Department of Corrections, working at facilities in Watertown, Dannemora, and Ray Brook. In the 1980s he ministered to incarcerated AIDS patients and was at the forefront of the State’s response to the AIDS crisis, advocating for humane and sensitive treatment of people with HIV/AIDS. He also served as priest-in-charge at St.-Johns-in-the-Wilderness Episcopal Church in Paul Smiths NY for many years. 

George was deeply involved in many volunteer activities. He taught Education for Ministry through St. Luke’s Church. A lifelong ham radio enthusiast, he participated in SARNAK and provided emergency ham radio services for events such as the Tupper Lake Triathlon and the Lake Placid Ironman. He helped establish a local book club and he was active in the chess club. From 1999 to 2007 he was on the board of directors of Adirondack Health, serving as the president of the board for three years. George was active in the Rotary Club of Saranac Lake and served on its board. He was also a member of the Morehouse Lake Club in Hamilton County, and served as a trustee there for several years. A lifelong Anglophile, George enjoyed long-distance walks across England, hiking Devon, Yorkshire, Hadrian’s’ Wall, and St. Cuthbert’s Way. His travels also took him to the Holy Land, and one of his most joyful experiences was celebrating the Eucharist at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem. 

George cherished wilderness, music (especially Beethoven), chess, studying the heavens, Philly Vanilla ice cream, and most of all, his family. He was predeceased by his daughter Katherine Nagle. He is survived by his wife Margo, his daughter Robin Nagle, his daughter Susan (Eric) Olsen, his grandsons Garth (Anna) Olsen and Evan Olsen, and his granddaughter Zephyr (Matthew Digeratu) Delano-Nagle, as well as his spiritual son Kevin Guile. 

George’s warm, wise spirit and loving nature blessed so many people. A service celebrating his life will be held at 12:00 noon February 12, 2025, Rt. Rev. Jeremiah Williamson, Bishop of Albany, presiding. Donations in memory of The Rev. George O. Nagle may be made to St. Luke’s Church in support of the organ fund. Funeral arrangements are in care of the Fortune-Keough Funeral Home in Saranac Lake. Family and friends can also share their condolences online at fortunekeoughfuneralhome.com.