Lee Jagger Nugent died on March 16, 2018, at his home in Englewood, Florida. He was 91.
Mr. Nugent had lived most of his life in Southampton, where he owned Nugent & Potter, Inc., a wholesale supply house that had been started by his father in 1933. The business is currently in its fourth generation, being run by grandson, Lee Essay.
Mr. Nugent was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II and a member of Delta Sigma Pi fraternity. He had a long history of community involvement, serving as a founding member and trustee of the Southampton Golf Club, a member of the Southampton Fire Department, an elder, deacon, trustee and Sunday school teacher of the First Presbyterian Church of Southampton, member of Southampton Village Board of Appeals, and in Florida, member of Rotonda Golf Club, Courtside Tennis Club in Venice, and Faith Lutheran Church in Rotonda.
His passion was woodworking, making trays and lazy Susans out of wooden wine crates, and giving them to anyone who admired them. Many in the Southampton and Englewood area are owners of his creations. Survivors said he loved his home on Lemon Bay, his family, his church and his neighbors and friends.
He was predeceased by his wife, Dorothy “Dot” Boeckmann Nugent, to whom he was married for 67 years. He is survived by two daughters, Judith Poremba and companion Joe Lamattina of Rotonda, and Constance Essay and husband Richard of Southampton; four grandchildren, Kerry Kaiser of Englewood, Courtney Cronin and wife Nissa of Colorado, Lee Essay and wife Jana of Southampton, and Jeremy Essay and girlfriend Luisa Garcia of Southampton and New York City; and two great-grandchildren, Wil and Esta Essay of Southampton. He is also survived by his brother, William Post Nugent Jr.; and many nieces and nephews. His nephew, Roger Boeckmann of Pennsylvania lived with Mr. Nugent and his wife for a year, graduating from Southampton High School. A foreign exchange student, Martine Cesari from Menton, France, lived with them during her senior year in high school. Other nieces and nephews spent summers and long visits with them.
A memorial service will be held on April 28 at 4 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church of Southampton.
Memorial donations may be made to Faith Lutheran Church, 551 Rotonda Boulevard West, Rotonda West, FL 33947.