General | January 5
DeKALB, Ill. --- For almost three decades through the early 1980s, Bud and Joyce Nangle were the first couple of Northern Illinois University's prize-winning Office of Sports Information and, eventually in 2007, became the namesakes of the venerable Huskie Stadium press box.
Mrs. Nangle passed away Dec. 27 at age 91 in her Vista, Calif., home, surrounded by loving family including sisters Dorothy Walbaum of Torrance, Calif., and Barbara Shortley of Fallbrook, Calif., plus brother-in-law George Shortley. She was preceded in death by her husband in 2006. The couple had no children and were married in 1947.
A 1 p.m. (PST) funeral mass is scheduled for Monday, Jan. 8, at the St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Vista. Mrs. Nangle will be laid to rest next to her husband Jan. 11 at the Hillside Cemetery in downtown Palatine, Ill., which is hometown to both.
Mrs. Nangle was a local church volunteer, an avid reader, and big crossword puzzle fan. In DeKalb, she worked for years at ServiSoft, a local water softener firm. In memorium, Joyce created academic scholarships at both NIU and Palatine High School in honor of her late husband.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Joyce Nangle's name should be made to Catholic Charities USA.
Northwestern University athletics director Jim Phillips called her a "great lady." DeKalb native and ex-student assistant Joe Hart, who would become the sports editor of the Madison (Wis.) Capital Times called her "elegant, kind, and welcoming." Former Chicago Tribune columnist Mike Conklin fondly reminisced what a "wonderful couple" they were.
The Bud and Joyce Nangle Press Box at Huskie Stadium was dedicated on Oct. 13, 2007 during Phillips' tenure as NIU athletics director. A member of five halls of fame and known as the patriarch of NIU sports information, Bud was one of the major driving forces for the Huskie athletic program's elevation to major-college status on the gridiron and original affiliation with the Mid-American Conference.
Brad Hoey, a fixture at Northern Illinois University involved with Huskie Athletics since Bud Nangle's days as the University's Sports Information Director, who most recently served the university as Special Projects Coordinator, fondly remembered the couple.
"Bud and Joyce Nangle were among the most passionate and loyal Huskies I have had the pleasure of knowing," Hoey said. "Bud was an old-school journalist and PR man, and I was extremely fortunate to be mentored by him. He was tough but fair and professional. Joyce treated students on the Sports Information staff and student journalists as she would her own children. She wanted us to succeed and did what she could to help us along the way on our career paths. The Nangles contributed much to NIU over the years, and their support of the university, its students, faculty and staff will be remembered for years to come."
Nangle served two tenures as NIU sports information director (1947-49 and 1967-84) and also was the sports editor of the DeKalb Daily Chronicle (1947-49). Nangle also worked at the Chicago Daily News and was the executive sports editor of the Toledo Blade. He lettered at NIU in basketball (1940-41) and baseball (1941) prior to serving in the U.S. Navy during World War II (1942-46).
"Bud Nangle was a mentor to all of us," recalled Hart who worked for NIU Sports information in the early 1970s. "Since they had no children, he and Joyce looked fondly after us (students) and always welcomed me into their home."
-- NIU --
Provided by Mike Korcek
