Edward Hannon Nugent

Edward Hannon Nugent, age 82, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, November 13, 2024, at Empath Suncoast Hospice in Pinellas County, Florida with his wife by his side. He was a devoted husband, a loving father and step-father to 7 children, and the proud and doting grandfather of 15 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren. He is survived by his wife, Lynda Lake Nugent, his children, Kelly Bennett (Randy), Steven Nugent, Shannon Hicks (Chris), Ryan Nugent, and step-children, Billy Howard (Carolyn), Jaycee Howard, Heather Jones (Brian), his grandchildren, Hannah and Joshua Bennett, Ashlee, Calvin, and Brayden Nugent, Brittney Harrison, Chrystal, Skylar and Lillian Hicks, Catherine Nugent, Jordan, Will and Hope Howard, and Avery and Ethan Jones, and great-grandchildren, Cash and Cole Minter, Charlie Nugent and Brielle Harrison. He is also survived by siblings, Albert Nugent (Donna), Patrick Nugent (Barbara), Mary Therese McGinty (Tom), and Ruthie Hovanic (Mel), and Lin Hinton Nugent. He is preceded in death by his parents: Ruth and Joseph Nugent and his beloved aunt Etta Mahoney, his siblings: Bill (Teresa) Nugent, Joe Nugent, Nancy Nugent, and Danny Nugent, and step-son, Wesley Howard.

Ed was born in Cleveland and raised in Lakewood, Ohio, and he joined the Navy in 1960, serving until 1968, when he joined the private sector, in the field of Defense Department contracting. He served as the Vice-President of Hydrotronics and of Data Design Laboratories (DDL Omni Engineering, Inc.) before becoming the senior vice-president of Radix Systems, the job he held until his retirement. His career consisted of providing support through software system development for National Security and Intelligence Community customers. He enjoyed running in those important, patriotic and, sometimes, highly classified circles, and he NEVER ran out of great Navy stories to share with anyone who would listen!

As much as he loved his work, it took a back seat to his passion for the sport of golf. He started out as a caddy in his early teens and he continued to grow in his abilities and in his love for the game. He played all over the world while in the Navy, and then he continued to play every chance he got until just a few years ago. His skills were surpassed only by his stories about how great his skills were! He was a member of Evergreen and Hidden Creek Country Clubs in Virginia and a member of Feather Sound Country Club in Clearwater, Florida. His crowning achievement in the sport was his induction into the Golf Hall of Fame, for a hole-in-one, at Holly Hills Country Club in Maryland.

Ed reconnected with Lynda Lake at his 25th high school reunion and in 1986 they married and started a journey together that lasted for over 38 years, first in Great Falls, Virginia, and then, they retired to Clearwater, Florida. They enjoyed spending their time together traveling, golfing, or hosting friends and family at their home.

Ed always made his family a priority. His family was big and blended, messy and beautiful. Laughter filled every room he was in, and the bigger the gathering of friends and family the better! He was the life of every party and he never met a stranger. He was a great cook, an unparalleled story-teller, and he kept a fabulous yard, full of beautiful trees, bushes and flowers. He also had quite the collection of American Flyer trains, which he had been collecting since he was a young boy. He was a natural born leader and was the HOA President for both Amberwood, in Virginia and Lake Pointe Villas, in Feather Sound, Florida.

Although this covers some of the important highlights in Ed Nugent’s life, it does not begin to capture the spirit of a man that was bigger than life to so many of us. Our hearts are heavy with sorrow. But, his faith in God, and his belief in the promise of eternal life, reminds us that his life has not ended. He is still very near and present, and will continue to watch over us, pray for us, and protect us. So, we will hang on to the precious memories, longing for the day when our tears are no more and our sorrow is replaced with laughter and joy over knowing and loving such a perfectly imperfect, flawed but dynamic, funny, kind and generous man named Ed Nugent.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, January 24, 2025 at 10am at Precious Blood Catholic Church in Culpeper, Virginia immediately followed by a military committal service at Culpeper National Cemetery.