Obituary of George Robert Nugent

Dr. G. Robert “Bob” Nugent died at his home at the age of 95 in Morgantown, WV on October 31, 2016. He was born on February 6, 1921 in Yonkers, New York the son of the late Alberta and George F. Nugent. After serving in the U.S. Maritime Service during W.W. II, he graduated summa cum laude from Kenyon College and subsequently attended medical school at the University of Cincinnati. He completed his residency in neurosurgery at Duke University in 1958. He met his wife Virginia Hayes in 1946 on his beloved Fire Island where he spent his summers growing up. Dr. Nugent joined the faculty of the WVU School of Medicine in 1961. In the 1960s, he was one of the first neurosurgeons to treat patients in what was then the new University Hospital. "Dr. Nugent devoted his entire adult life to his patients, the students and residents he trained, and the profession of medicine," said Clay Marsh, M.D., WVU vice president and executive dean for health sciences. "He was one of the founding team that created our medical school in the 1960s, a leader among the faculty for decades, and earned the respect of his peers across the country. One of the reasons we have such a strong neurosciences program today - both in the care of patients and in research -- is that he had the vision, long ago, that Morgantown could be a center of excellence in the study and treatment of brain diseases." During his tenure, he led the Department of Neurosurgery for 15 years (1970-85), and helped established and led for nine years the faculty practice plan. Nugent received the Most Valuable Teacher award in 1970. Following his retirement as Chair of the Department of Neurosurgery in 1985, he continued to work part-time for the department for many years. He was actively mentoring neurosurgical residents and saw his last patient within the past month, and was interviewing a faculty candidate within the last week of his life. He was still performing neurosurgical procedures until age 91. In addition, until late in life he provided testimony as an expert witness in a number of neurosurgical malpractice cases. "It is devastating to lose my friend and partner of these past 15 years," said Charles L. Rosen, M.D., PhD., who currently holds Dr. Nugent's former post as chair of the Department of Neurosurgery in the WVU School of Medicine. "It is with his advice and counsel that so many great things have happened here. He will be missed." Bob Nugent was as devoted to the Mountaineer football team as he was to his neurosurgical career and served as team physician for 43 years. In 1991, Dr. Nugent was named Most Loyal Mountaineer and Most Loyal West Virginian by the WVU Student Foundation Selection Committee. He was also honored with the West Virginia “Doctor of the Year” award by the Ayerst-Wyeth pharmaceutical company in 1992 for contributing outstanding community service for the residents of the state of West Virginia. Two years later, in 1994, Nugent was named to the Order of Vandalia – the highest award West Virginia University can bestow. In 2000, the WVU Department of Neurosurgery established the annual G. Robert Nugent Lectureship to bring in top neurosurgeons from across the country to provide neurosurgeons and related specialties at WVU with updated knowledge. At the time of his death, the department and a group of his previous neurosurgical residents were working on establishing an endowed chair at WVU in his name. His 62-year love affair with his wife Virginia sustained and supported his long, successful and prolific career as a neurosurgeon. In the later years of their lives, they traveled the world and were well-known for their grace on the dance floor. He will be missed by his many friends, neurosurgical colleagues and family for his delightful and irreverent sense of humor. Dr. Nugent is survived by his children: Dana Nugent and husband Joe Henry of Davis, West Virginia, Robert Nugent of Morgantown, Leslie and Hank Hartz of Richmond, VA, Barnes Nugent of Morgantown, and Courtney and Joy Nugent of Morgantown. His grandchildren include Anya Aylesworth, Whitney, Ian, and Elliott Hartz and Grant Nugent. Cremation services were provided by Hastings Funeral Home, and there will be a celebration of his life at the WVU Alumni Center on Sunday, November 13, 2016 at 1:00. In lieu of flowers, please make contributions to the WVU Foundation—Fund in Memory of Dr. Nugent, P.O. Box 1650, Morgantown, WV 26507.