The Reverend Mr. Donald Joseph Francis Nagy, OP, MSW, LICSW, 63, of Tucson, Arizona passed away on June 26, 2018 at Tucson Medical Center.

He was predeceased by his parents, Donald J. Nagy, Sr. and Elizabeth Barrett McGuire Nagy; and grandparents: Gabor and Rosza (Torok) Nagy; Charles and Gertrude (Barrett) McGuire.

Donald was born on February 2, 1955, in Cleveland, Ohio and was baptized at St. Prokrops Parish. He attended St. Agnes School in Mingo Junction, Ohio where he was taught by the Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity of Manitowoc, Wisconsin. Donald grew up in Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Brilliant, Ohio. Donald graduated from St. Joseph Preparatory Seminary in Vienna, West Virginia where his classmates nicknamed him "The Pope". He went on to college at St. John Vianney Seminary in Bloomingdale, Ohio and was the first student at the Franciscan University to declare a triple major for his 1977 graduation; English (Ezra Pound), Philosophy (Thomas Aquinas), and Humanities (Medieval Studies). Donald also pursued graduate studies in theology at St. Francis University in Loreto, Pennsylvania and at St. Michael's College in Toronto, Ontario.

Donald made his move to the Sonoran Desert in 1982. He began his human services career as a protégé of the late Fred Acosta at Tucson Job Corps and earned a Master's Degree in social work (MSW) from Arizona State University- Tucson Component. Don then went on to a 31 year career in psychiatric social work/therapy at the Tucson VA Medical Center, first at the V.A.'s main campus and then to the Northwest VA Clinic when it opened. He received numerous "Apple Awards" from the School of Social Work at Arizona State University, which recognized Don's mentoring of novice social workers and therapists. As a lifelong learner, Don combined various counseling credentials to better serve his clients: Cognitive Therapies (Beck and Ellis), Psychoanalysis (Freud) and Psychodrama (Moreno).

Donald was a fully professed member of The Order of Preachers, also known as the Dominicans. Don was ordained to the Sacrament of Holy Orders as a Deacon for the Latin Rite Catholic Diocese of Tucson by His Excellency, The Most Reverend Gerald Kicanas on June 15, 2017 at St. Augustine Cathedral. He served this past year as a deacon at his home parish of Saints Peter and Paul, and was a member of the Knights of Columbus and St. Vincent de Paul Society.

Donald was gifted with one of the most beautiful singing voices, what one musical friend described as, "a diesel baritone". In the last 30 plus years he sang at numerous VA events, particularly at the Purple Heart Ceremony, the Purple Heart Park, and the National Anthem for the Tucson Padres.

Donald traveled with the St. Thomas the Apostle parish's choir to Italy and Hungary and they performed at major basilicas throughout. He also soloed at a mass at the Sistine Chapel. While in Hungary he saved a man's life who had caught on fire, and he was recognized by the local Hungarian press.

Don also traveled with the National VA Choir to the Old Soviet Union and visited and entertained at Russian VA hospitals. Donald also had performed with the Tucson Opera Company, Shirley Jones at Carnegie Hall, and on several occasions with the great Dave Brubeck.

Donald is survived by five siblings all of Tucson; Marybeth Nagy, J. Luke Nagy, Stephen Nagy, Bridgette Terribile, and R. Gabriel (Kate) Nagy; Two aunts, Mary Ellen McGuire Murphy of Mingo Junction, Ohio and Catherine Nagy Blake of Wheeling, West Virginia; One nephew Seth M. (Laura) Nagy of Honolulu, Hawaii; and three nieces, Gertrude Terribile of Tucson, AZ, Ana Vasich of Mingo Junction, OH, and Lukenzie Nagy of Dillonvale, Ohio; and two grandnieces Savannah and Charlotte Nagy of Honolulu, Hawaii.

Don became a Knight of Columbus after completing his Admission(1st) degree on 23 Feb 1999. After many years of encouragement from Sir Knights in his council, Don completed the Patriotic (4th) Degree Exemplification on 03 Mar 2018 and became a proud orange polo shirt wearing member of the Father Anthony Rey Assembly # 3617.

A Rosary Vigil was held at Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church on Friday, July 6 at 7:00 pm. A Funeral Mass was celebrated on Saturday, July 7 at 11:00 am with the Most Reverend Bishop Edward Weisenburger presiding. A life celebration reception followed in Gramer Hall.

Deacon Don Nagy Funeral Mass
07 July 2018

While we are saddened by our loss, we take solace in the knowledge that SK Deacon Don Nagy is now with our Lord. As was said in the Chalice Ceremony,
WORTHY SIR KNIGHT UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN