Obituaries

Norman M. Nugent, 79

February 16, 2022

Norman “Norm” Milburn Nugent, 79, of New Providence, passed away on Wednesday, February 16. 2022 in Lancaster. He was the loving husband of Evelyn (Okerstrom) Nugent with whom he shared 55 years of marriage.

Born on September 12, 1942 in Detroit, MI, Norm is preceded in death by parents Austin Milburn Nugent and Edith (Chapman) Nugent Newton, and brothers Marvin and Bruce Nugent.

Supporting himself as a short order cook, Norm enlisted in the United States Navy at seventeen. He served as a Radioman and Chief Petty Officer from 1960 to 1980 during historic events such as the blockade aboard the USS Fort Snelling during the Cuban Missile crisis of 1962. After retirement from the US Navy, Norm embarked on a multitude of careers, first joining the Bell System in California. After the regulatory breakup of the Bell System in 1984, Norm remained with AT&T and moved to the New Jersey campus in late 1985 where he traveled the US providing customer service training. In 1989, he moved from AT&T to the Foster Wheeler Corporation as a Records Retention Specialist managing the engineering firm’s archives. Not content just interacting with boxes, Norm found success in a second job uniting his talkative nature and audiophile interests as an audio salesman at Circuit City.

Norm disliked being sedentary, and always enacted grandiose implementations of his hobbies and interests. Leather crafts held his attention in the 1970s, with very period creations of lampshades and belts. At the turn of the decade he became immersed in woodworking, applying his love of machinery (and buying things) with his desire to create. Woodworking remained a strong interest through his retirement, interrupted by a brief period of a large scale model train installation in his Pennsylvania garage.

Disrupting the common perception that people retire to warm places, Norm decamped from Easton, Pennsylvania to the small (and cold!) northern town of Garland, Maine in 2005. In addition to a building dedicated for woodworking, Norm used the trees on their property and became obsessed with making maple syrup. Still craving the need to talk to people, Norm ventured into politics as Selectman for the town of Garland for two terms. The later years of retirement found Norm restless to get back out on the road. In his Foretravel RV he and Ev drove across the United States visiting old friends, family, and many national parks.

After an aggressive Merkel-cell cancer diagnosis in late 2014, Norm later returned to Pennsylvania to be near family. He continued his treatments and headed into successful remission, beating low odds of survival thanks in part to his doctor strongly advocating for new therapies.

Norm loved to talk to people. He would chat and tell stories to anyone that would listen, from wait-staff at restaurants to his nurses at the cancer center. His love for his family was often conveyed through being subjects of his tales.

In addition to his wife, Norm is survived by his children Lisa Nugent Kindt (wife of Robert) and Paul Nugent (partner of Ryan Ludman); granddaughter Amanda Kindt; sisters Anita Smith and Delores Chism; as well as many nieces and nephews.

A Memorial Service will be held at Charles F. Snyder Funeral Home & Crematory at 3110 Lititz Pike, Lititz, PA 17543 on Saturday, February 26, 2022 at 2:00 PM. Friends will be received at the Funeral Home from 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the American Cancer Society at www.cancer.org

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Condolences to the Family

March 03, 2022

We were so very sad to hear of Norm’s passing. I had the pleasure of being his next door neighbor of the past few years. Reading these wonderful words above I had to smile. Norm shared his exploits in all of these fields! From how to correctly extract maple syrup from trees, to the inner workings of the Foretravel or tips on woodworking, he always had a story. He’d liked to remind me Pennsylvania does not have “real snow” because that’s in Maine. We shared a yard and somewhere along the way I became “his gardener” Norm used to say. This only because his health kept him from it. We had many chats about all sorts of things in that yard and porch, often starting with his, “Hey, ya wanna see something cool?” and I’d be gone for an hour! I will miss those talks–he was a sweet man, always smiling, always positive and never once complained about his cancer. All these things and more is how I will remember my buddy. Thank you for sharing him with us. Love to Evelyn and your whole family.
Tim&Rena Shaw

March 02, 2022

We were so very sad to hear of Norm’s passing. I had the pleasure of being his next door neighbor of the past few years. Reading these wonderful words above I had to smile. Norm shared his exploits in all of these fields! From how to correctly extract maple syrup from trees, to the inner workings of the Foretravel or tips on woodworking, he always had a story. He’d liked to remind me Pennsylvania does not have “real snow” because that’s in Maine. We shared a yard and somewhere along the way I became “his garner” Norm used to say. This only because his health kept him from it. We had many chats about all sorts of things in that yard and porch, often starting with his, “Hey, ya wanna see something cool?” and I’d be gone for an hour! I will miss those talks–he was a sweet man, always smiling, always positive and never once complained about his cancer. All these things and more is how I will remember my buddy. Thank you for sharing him with us. Love to Evelyn and your whole family.

February 24, 2022

What can be said about Norm that hasn’t already been said. He did love to tell stories but especially about his family. When he spoke about Ev or Paul or Lisa and especially Amanda you could hear the pride in his voice. He loved his family and enjoyed every chance to talk about them. I enjoyed all his stories and all the times I got to spend with Norm and Ev. Celebrating birthdays together in Maine, going out to western Pa in the RV. Wonderful memories. I’m so glad Lisa married Bob, I got to meet a wonderful couple and their family. God Bless. You are missed more than you know.
Janet Rucks

February 22, 2022

Ev, Am so sorry to hear about Norm! Our thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family!!
Love Bud and Bert

February 22, 2022

Dearest Lisa, Amanda and Rob, Deepest condolences to you on the loss of your beloved Father and Grandfather. Lifting you all in prayer. May his memory be a blessing to you. love, Kate Kelly Rothschild

February 22, 2022

Rest in peace, Shipmate, with fair winds and following seas. Wishing Ev and the family the peace of the LORD.
Harry Dorman

February 22, 2022

Sorry to hear of the passing of Norm,We grew to know them up in Garland when we purchase a summer home there and remaned good and loving friends ever since,
love brian macleod heavenly wife anna

February 22, 2022

So sorry to hear! We’ve lost another great gentlemen. So kind and thoughtful. Blessings and big hugs Ev.

February 21, 2022

So sorry to hear about Norm. Truly a great person. I had the pleasure of getting to know Norm and Ev while they were in Garland Maine. Norm helped me with many projects, he was always generous with his time and knowlege. I’m very lucky because there are reminders of Norm all around my house. many woodworking projects. when ever I wouild ask him to help me to do a project he always said yes and everytime he would up the ante. He would always take my idea and say “thats good but what if we did this?” He was so skilled and imaginative. Norm was a good friend and great person. I will never forget him. Ev I’m so sorry for your loss. Thank You for all the lunches you guys fed me when Norm and I were working on something. He will be missed. A great man
Mark Peach

February 21, 2022

Sorry for your loss. Glen and I were surprised to learn of his passing. We were neighbors for several years plus visiting to play games and enjoy dinners. EV we send our love, hugs and condolences.

February 21, 2022

Norm was a true gentleman, kind, sincere, lending a helping hand, passing on knowledge, a great listener and story teller. Norm and Ev were always rays of sunshine we had the pleasure to get to know and love. We have missed them as the moved from Graland to Pennsylvania and are so saddened to hear of Norms passing. Both Norm and Ev will forever be in our hearts. Condolences to Ev and family as well as all who loved him.

February 21, 2022

My deepest condolences to Ev and family. I will miss Norm very much.

February 21, 2022

Ev, so sorry to hear of Norm’s passing. He was a joy to know and I always loved hearing his voice on the other side of the phone. I am sure your memories will bring you comfort during this sad time. My prayers are with you.

Visitation: Saturday, February 26, 2022; 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM; Charles F. Snyder Funeral Home & Crematory; 3110 Lititz Pike; Lititz, PA 17543
Map and Directions: Get Maps and Directions >
Services: Saturday, February 26, 2022; 2:00 PM; Charles F. Snyder Funeral Home & Crematory; 3110 Lititz Pike; Lititz, PA 17543
Map and Directions: Get Maps and Directions >