Ronald C. Nagle

Ronald C. Nagle, 84, of West Chester, died Friday, November 15, 2024, at his home with his family by his side. 

Born July 17, 1940, in West Chester, he was the son of the late Virginia C. Lockard Higgins, a West Chester resident until her death in 1994, and Walter I. Higgins, his stepfather, and Frank G. Nagle, his father. 

After graduating from Saint Joseph’s University and Temple University Law School, Ron started his career with the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation in 1965. Following training at the U.S. Marine Corps Base in Quantico, VA, he worked as a field agent in Washington, D.C., Kansas City, MO, and Marietta, GA until 1967. He then worked in his mother’s West Chester bakery, Quaker Bakers, while also working as a lawyer. In 1968, Ron began practicing law with C. Barry Buckley, with whom he formed the Law Offices of Buckley Nagle. In 2005, he was appointed by Governor Rendell as a Judge of the Chester County Court of Common Pleas and was subsequently elected to a full term on the court, after receiving support from both political parties. Ron’s time on the bench was one of the most rewarding periods of his career. He reached mandatory retirement age in 2018, at which time he joined the law firm of MacElree Harvey, Ltd. as Of Counsel to finish his career practicing law with his son, Brian. 

Ron enjoyed making the most of each day…gardening, feeding the birds, reading, and being with his wife, Ann, with whom he enjoyed 59 years of marriage. During their life together, he found great joy in spending time with his loving family and making wonderful memories with his dearest friends. Ron completed his crossword puzzle daily, loved his Golden Retrievers, played his piano, and frequently relished time spent outside on his John Deere tractor. In his younger years, he was an avid runner and tennis player. He served his community in many ways, including as a founding member of the Chester County Bar Foundation, President and CEO of Handi-Crafters Inc., and President of the Chester County Bar Association. 

Ron is survived by his wife, Ann G. Nagle, his daughters, Ginny A. Nagle (Anthony Venditti), Kathy N. Borkowski (Mark), and Gretchen N. Pezza (Bill), his son Brian L. Nagle (Jessica), and his 14 grandchildren Benjamin B. (20), Kathryn G. (17), and Peter A. (12) Venditti, Rachel A. (19), Zachary E. (16), and Maxwell L. (11) Borkowski, Madeline G. (14), William P. (11), and Evelyn L. (9) Pezza, and Jackson G. (21), Charles P. (19), Anna T. (17), William F. (14), and June E. (8) Nagle, all of West Chester.  

Relatives and friends are welcome to call on Friday, November 22 from 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. at St. Agnes Church, 233 W. Gay St., West Chester. Following visitation, a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. at St. Agnes Church.      

Interment will be in Birmingham Lafayette Cemetery, 1235 Birmingham Road, West Chester, PA. All are welcome.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to The Chester County Bar Foundation, 15 W. Gay Street, Suite 2, West Chester, PA, 19380 or Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758516, Topeka, KS, 66675-8516.