In Memory
John A. Nagy
Oct. 15, 1921 - Apnl 5, 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 Caesars 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 an.d 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..
Sources: Ancestry.com, Newspapers.com and FindAGrave.com
03/18/2024 EJS
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