Mr. Richard Howard Nagel, known affectionately as Dick by his friends and family, passed away peacefully on August 25, 2025, in Rochester, NY, after a valiant battle with leukemia. Born on June 15, 1939, in Batavia, NY, to the late Bob and Betty Nagel, Dick’s life was one marked by dedication, innovation, and a boundless spirit of adventure.
Dick’s journey through life was as varied as it was accomplished. A graduate of Clarkson College, where he received a BS in Mechanical Engineering, he furthered his education by attending night school at the University of Rochester, earning an MBA. His professional life encompassed a 30-year career with Xerox, during which he earned several patents as an engineer. Xerox moved him from Rochester NY to Toronto, Canada to Stamford CT, and back to Rochester, where he ultimately served as a pricing strategist for print product lines.
Each of these transitions was supported by the love of his life, Jessie. He spied her at a Greek event during college and then spent the next 6 months strategizing on how to catch her attention. He succeeded in winning her beautiful heart, using clever strategies like bringing a puppy along on their first official date, and extending an invitation to the family cabin on Lake Ontario, which sealed the deal. They were happily married for 63 blissful years.
In his mid-50s, Dick embraced a career change that led him to explore a medley of new ventures. He channeled his entrepreneurial spirit into sailboat sales, managed a startup business for safety sensors, became a project developer for a Cornell consortium, worked in mergers and acquisitions for an oil company, and owned/operated a campground/marina. His industrious nature was evident from his youth, where he kept busy running traps, pumping gas, milking cows, and changing tires, in addition to being a janitor and chauffer for his grandfather’s newspaper, the Batavia Daily News.
Dick’s commitment to service was exemplified by his achievement as an Eagle Scout and earning the Order of the Arrow. His volunteer work included leading an inner-city Boy Scout troop and serving as a board member for the Little White Church out on Point Peninsula. He was a member of the Kinsmen Club, the Junior Chamber of Commerce, and regularly dedicated his time to a local soup kitchen.
His personal life was as rich as his professional and volunteer endeavors. Dick was a devoted family man, survived by his loving sisters, Encie Nagel Stevens (Vernon) and Coni Nagel Lyman (John); his adoring children, Rebecca Nagel Abrahams (Doug), Sarah Jane Konst, and Douglas Howard Nagel (Laura); his cherished grandchildren, Edward, Andrew, James, David, Elise, Lily, and Luke, and his brand new great grandson, August. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Jessie F. Nagel, brother, Robert Nagel, and his parents.
An avid outdoorsman, Dick loved hunting, fishing, skiing, hiking the Adirondacks, camping, RVing, gardening, and traveling. He was very proud to earn the ADK fire tower challenge badge, having completed his last required hikes just before he was diagnosed with blood cancer. He had a passion for boating and sailing, and his summers on Point Peninsula were treasured times. In his later years he could often be found with his dog Bean on his lap, watching “Shark Tank,” playing penny poker on Wednesday afternoons at the Point, or hanging out at Riki’s for breakfast with his friends.
Dick’s zest for life was infectious. Those who knew Dick will remember him as a man who was funny, analytical, and selfless. He had a wide circle of friends from all walks of life. Although Dick was quite opinionated on some subjects, he was always the kind of friend who was nonjudgemental and took people at face value. He approached life with a unique blend of humor and thoughtfulness that endeared him to many. He will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege of knowing him.
Memorial Service: Thursday September 11, 2025, 1:00 pm at Richard H Keenan Funeral Home, 7501 Pittsford-Palmyra Road, Fairport NY.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the National Park Foundation in Dick’s memory.
Many thanks to the amazing nurses at the Wilmot Cancer Center and the Infusion center and especially the hematology/oncology staff – Jozal, Jen, Sean…forever dear to us.
12 responses to “Nagel, Richard H.”
Dick, did enjoy skiing. He was a terrific ski buddy even skiing in the fog and rain. He will be missed.
A life well lived. Many loving family and friends. Can’t ask for more than that. He will be missed.
I was blessed to have known Dick and learned a great deal of life lessons from him. We spent many hours fishing, hunting pheasants and waterfowl together. He was an inspiration to me and I was proud to have called him my friend.
1 Samuel Verse 18:3 (A good friend is a blessing from God)
So sorry to hear the passing of Dick. He was great friend of my Parents and mine as well. RIP
A good remembrance for me of Dick. The Rochester Ski Club was on a ski trip to Attitash, NH. It was the last morning to ski, conditions that day were not good. Anyway, I don’t often fall but that morning I did, right in front of Dick and the friends he was skiing with. Embarrassing, but Dick picked me up, and off I went. A good guy.
So sorry to hear of Dick’s passing. I met him on my first ski trip with the club, and in conversation on the chair, learned that he owned Hidden Harbor. I had been spending weekends on Point Peninsula for a decade at that point, and could have fallen off the chair in surprise at the coincidence.
At great guy who will be missed.
I skied with Dick and his buddies for a few
years and always had such a good time with them. So sad for the family that they lost both both father and mother in the past two years. Dick was a great guy and will be missed by many!
We are so sad that his passing came so soon
….we chatted on telephone last spring with Sarah and i hoping to meet up halfway between Toronto and the point..with Coni and John but it never happened…last time we spoke Dick mentioned he had leukemia which was my wife’s specialty at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre and offered any assistance. He was my favourite cousin growing up…always at get-togethers at Christmas at the beautiful farm in Batvia…His dad was my godfather and gave me a pair of wooden water skis which I kept until my 60s….I’m 78 now…I remember visiting you in Darien and shooting sone hoops and pool I think..
Dick and Jessie were at our wedding in Toronto Sept 15 some 53 years ago.Alwaya looked up to him and always wanted to visit at Three Mile Bay but never happened. Doug, you and your cousins have done so well and the grandchildren are becoming so accomplished..I was at their wedding, peacocks and all …and our family -3 sons – in tow bumped into them in Bermuda!! Sarah and I send our sincere condolences to you and your siblings. We will all miss and remember Dick and Jessie . Love John and Sarah Nagel
We have great memories of having dinner
at Wise Guys with Dick & Jessie &
dessert at our home at the firepit
on many occasions. Will miss seeing him on his
golf cart with bean….Pt. Peninsula will
not be the same losing our brightest stars!
I always looked forward to seeing Dick at Bristol Mountain and on the Rochester Ski Club trips. A great guy and enthusiastic skier who made the fun more fun! Condolences to his family and friends. He’ll be missed by all who knew him.
Dick truly was always kind, selfless and a joy to be around. When I learned he had blood cancer, I shed a tear, and he said don’t worry Ann, I’ve had a good, long life and I’ll ski next year . He was always concerned about the other person.
Thank you to Dick and his family for your generosity towards the American Red Cross- Fairport Blood Donor Center. Anyone is welcome to please come and visit Dick and Jessie’s name printed on the donor plaque in the main waiting area. To give back to your community and to loved ones, I urge you to donate blood if you are able. Dick’s children understand the importance of stocking our shelves of life saving blood products for local area hospitals like the Wilmot Cancer Center and beyond. We supply 40% of the nation’s blood supply and process all blood donations in the state of NY right here in Henrietta. It was an absolute pleasure to meet Dick, Becky and Doug. Thank you from everyone at the American Red Cross of Western New York and Greater Rochester Chapter. May his generosity, charm and zest for life live on forever.