Submitted by: Dan Rich
Oct. 15, 1921 - April 5, 2002
South Bend Tribune 4/10/2002
John A. Nagy, 80, of Locust Road,
passed away on Friday, April 5, in his residence. Mr. Nagy was
born on Oct. 15, 1921, in South Bend, Ind., to Peter and Rose
Nagy. John graduated from Washington High School in 1939. He was
a World War II Army veteran, serving from 1942 to 1946. After his
tour of duty, John attended Indiana University, Utah State
University and the University of Southern California. As a
pianist he worked the glamorous clubs and hotels in Las Vegas,
Reno and Lake Tahoe, as well as various national television
programs. He had arranged for numerous recordings and did all the
rehearsals for these Broadway shows: Fiddler on the Roof, Mame
and Sweet Charity. In addition, he conducted the Flower
Drum Song starring the popular Jack Soo.
In Las Vegas he served as pianist,
accompanist and arranger for the Louis Prima-Keely Smith team,
and as a "Witness" with the Sam Butera Group. For one
year he conducted, arranged for and rehearsed the world-famed
DeCastro Sisters act. For six years he was house pianist at
Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas under Nat Brandwynne. During this
stay he conducted for Jack Benny, Bobbie Gentry, Eartha Kitt,
Buck Owens, Juliet Prowse, Marty Robbins and Dale Robertson. As
part of the house band there he accompanied such impressive
artists as Harry Belafonte, Polly Bergen, Sammy Davis Jr., Judy
Garland, Eydie Gorme, Susan Hayward, Steve Lawrence, Liza Minelli
and Andy Williams.
In November 1959, in Las Vegas, he married
Jessie Mae Hand, who died on July 6, 1993. John was also
preceded in death by a sister, Mary Magley; and by three
brothers, Pete Nagy, Frank Nagy and Joseph Nagy. He is survived
by two sons, John E. Nagy of South Bend, Ind., and Jeffery H.
Nagy of Mishawaka, Ind.; four grandchildren, Rachel, Amanda,
Kevin and Cherish; three sisters, Rose (John) Magera, Anna
Fodrocy and Catherine (Chester) Michalski, all of
South Bend; and by two brothers Kenneth (Betty) Nagy of Niles,
Mich., and Emery (Pat) Nagy of Tennessee.
Private services will take place. The
Zahoran Funeral Home handled arrangements.