SAD NEWS: Death of Lee Nagel, Executive Director of the NCCL

'From the Heart: Remembering Leland Nagel'

by Tom Quinlan
Director of the Religious Education Office, Diocese of Joliet and former member of the NCCL Board 
of Directors.

Over the years, Leland (Lee) Nagel served our diocese in a number of ways. He facilitated catechist formation events, gave leadership retreats and even facilitated a process for those involved in Catholic schools planning in the diocese a few years ago.

Sadly, Lee passed away during late May after overseeing a successful NCCL annual conference.

Leland Nagel

While Lee often expressed his fondness and appreciation for the Diocese of Joliet, our diocese was
not unusual in having been blessed by his giftedness. The ultimate performer, a story-teller par
excellence, a catechist’s catechist, and man of deep faith, Lee was in great demand all across the
country.

During his seven years as executive director of the National Conference for Catechetical Leadership,
Lee generously continued to accept invitations to present in dioceses, something he enjoyed doing. He loved to connect with people, to touch their hearts, and bring them to laughter and tears as he endeavored to reveal the wide and beautiful panorama of God’s grace active in the world.

Lee had a wonderful career in the Green Bay Diocese as the head of Total Catholic Education long
before I first met him. He was an advocate for Catholic schools and parish faith formation operating out of a common vision set forth in our universal Church’s and our nation’s catechetical documents. He would want us to continue to strive each day for this goal.

I had the joy of serving on the NCCL board that hired Lee back in 2007. I worked closely with Lee
during his first three years in that role and in the ensuing years on various projects for the
organization. Lee gave of himself so generously, even heroically, throughout his time as NCCL
executive director. He loved the organization and believed in its mission to serve catechetical
leadership in the U.S. He worked as a close partner with other national Catholic organizations and
the USCCB, building bridges all along the way.

The national catechetical landscape, because of Lee Nagel, is more vibrant, more colorful, more hope-filled . . . indeed more Catholic in the richest sense of the term. Lee may have been larger-than-life, a boisterous personality that demanded our attention. And yet, in the legacy of Lee Nagel is the invitation for each of us to be true to ourselves…and in doing so, to make the difference we are uniquely called to make for Christ.

The NCCL is establishing a Memorial Fund in Lee’s name. Details will follow. 


To Correspond with the NCCL Office:

Associate Director Gina Garroway is responding to the many e-mails and phone calls at the NCCL. Make contact with her at:

ggarroway@nccl.org

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