Obituaries

Lester S. Nagy

1911-2008

Flags at city of South Lake Tahoe facilities will be flown at half-staff today in honor of Lester S. Nagy, 97, who died March 17, 2008, in Reno. Nagy was a founding member and mayor of the city of South Lake Tahoe, a longtime businessman and community leader.

A funeral service was Tuesday at St. Theresa Catholic Church, followed by interment at Happy Homestead Cemetery and a reception at the church.

Nagy was born Aug. 26, 1911, in Harrisburg, Pa., and was a resident of South Lake Tahoe since 1944.

In the early 1920s, he drove from New York to Los Angeles with less than $50 and arrived in L.A. with $5. He was hired by McDonnell-Douglas aircraft and worked there for 10 years, ascending to the position of shift plant manager. He met his future wife, Gabriella, in L.A. and they eloped to Carson City in 1939. They spent their honeymoon at Zephyr Cove, fell in love with the area and moved to Tahoe a few years later.

The Nagys opened Nagy's Cottages in 1947 where the International House of Pancakes is now is located. He also owned a septic tank business and was one of the founders of the South Tahoe Public Utility District. During the Korean War, he started Nevada Air Products Co. of Reno, a company that made aircraft components. He was vice president of Tahoe Savings and Loan in the 1960s and '70s and regional loan manager for El Dorado Savings and Loan from the late 1970s to the early 1990s.

Nagy was on the board of directors for the El Dorado County and the South Lake Tahoe chambers of commerce and was on the Highway 50 Development Committee in the 1950s. He was involved in the chartering of the city of South Lake Tahoe in 1965 and served as a city councilman as well as mayor in the 1970s. He also was involved in the creation of the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency and was a member of the governing board. He was on the Barton Memorial Hospital board of directors from 1988-2003.

Nagy was active in the South Lake Tahoe Elks Lodge and the Masonic Lodge, where he was a member of the Shriners, a volunteer firefighter and president of the South Side Improvement Association.

Nagy is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Victor and Jeanann Nagy of Markleeville, Calif.; grandchildren, Stephen Nagy and his wife, Rebecca, of San Antonio, Texas, Michelle Daniels of South Lake Tahoe and Steve Nagy of Idaho; and great-grandchildren, Tyler and Cameron Daniels of South Lake Tahoe, and Victor Steven Nagy of San Antonio. He was predeceased by his wife, Gabriella, and son, Lewis.

Donations in Les Nagy's memory may be made to the Barton Memorial Hospital Foundation, Endowment Fund, 2092 Lake Tahoe Blvd., Suite 400, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150.

Arthur Ray Stanford

1915-2008

A celebration of life is 11 a.m. Saturday at Calvary Chapel for Arthur Ray Stanford, 92, who died March 21, 2008, at Topaz Ranch Estates.

Mr. Stanford was born Nov. 23, 1915, in Bonavista Bay, Newfoundland, to Ronald and Jessie Stanford.

His family immigrated to Cambridge, Mass., in 1924.

Mr. Stanford married Rosalie Vokey on June 28, 1939. He moved his family to Southern California in 1951. He lived in Carson Valley for 17 years.

Mr. Stanford is preceded in death by his wife, Rosalie; his parents; one sister; two brothers and a grandson.

He is survived by son Henry and Donna Stanford of Port Orchard, Wash.; daughter Judi and Tom Nagel of Wellington; daughter Jan and Ray Spindler of Salem; eight grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandson.

Donald L. Youngman

1940-2008

A celebration of life memorial for Donald L. Youngman, 67, is 1 p.m. Saturday at the Topaz Ranch Estates Community Building on Carter Way. Mr. Youngman, a five-year resident of Gardnerville, died Feb. 10, 2008.

He is survived by his wife, Vicki; daughters, Wendy Gardner and Debra Quintanilla; and his five grandchildren, Jessica, Brian, Mitchell, Kyla and Tori, who knew him as "Buddy."

Family members said he was unforgettable and his fun-loving nature and enjoyment of life will be missed.

Donations in his name may be made to the Family Support Council in Gardnerville or the Topaz Lake Volunteer Fire Department.