Gene Nagy passed away

V

Vahe

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Sad news for those of us who knew Gene and for those who had an opportunity to play with him, against him, or just observe.

He told me personally he had 2 runs in the 400s (416 and 406, I think), a bunch of 300s, quite a few 200s, and a ton of 100s.

He helped me with my game when I was a bit more serious about it and has helped countless others from beginners to seasoned professionals.

He will be missed.
 
He was a true legend of the game, and a legend of a nice man. We have lost one of the greatest players to have ever held a cue. Jack Colavita, Steve Mizeark, and Gene Nagy leaving us in the same year. Unbelievable. My thoughts and prayers go out to Mr. Nagy's family and to all the lives he has touched over the years. I will remember him fondly.
 
(Adapted from another post...I guess I was too late :( )

My thoughts and prayers go out to this wonderful man who accomplished so much. I hope he passed in peace and without pain. And may his family be comforted in knowing that he leaves behind a legacy that has touched the hearts and spirits of many a pool player.
 
My condolensces to Mr. Nagy's family. His knowledge and spirit will be greatly missed. I never had the privilege of meeting him, but I certainly knew about him by reputation, as a player, and a great teacher!:(

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
 
Sad day indeed in NYC pool. Another straight pool legend has been removed from our midst.

Although Gene gave up competing in the mid 1970's, I was lucky enough to have watched Gene play in his prime. I saw him play my dad's friend, and alleged 600 ball runner, Mike Eufemia. Also saw him play Jack Colavita. Jack always considered Gene to be the greatest living scholar on the straight pool break shot, as far as where to hit the cluster and with what stroke and speed.

Every time I learn of the passing another old master of straight pool, I'm reminded how much effort we must all make to appreciate those still in our midst. In the fairly recent past, we've lost Irving Crane, Jimmy Caras, Art Cranfield, John Ervolino, Steve Mizerak, Jack Colavita, and now Gene Nagy.

Reminding ourselves that we still have old masters like Dallas West, Dan DiLiberto, Jim Fusco, Grady Matthews, Ray Martin, Nick Varner, Allen Hopkins, Lou Butera, Jim Rempe, and, of course, Mike Sigel, will help us wipe away the tears we shed for the loss of all these straight pool legends.

The passing of these legends further serves to remind us all that straight pool is more and more in the hands of young guns like Thorsten Hohmann, Thomas Engert, Mika Immonen and John Schmidt, and we leave the game in their very capable hands.

Thanks for everything, Gene.
 
Not only was Gene an unbelievable pool player but, more importantly. he was also a truly kind and caring person. Met him several years ago at La Cue, in Maspeth, Queens. and we quickly became friends. I would stop by maybe once a week and sometimes we would spend a few hours playing nine ball and talking, but mostly I would be watching, and totally enjoying, a true genius at work. I will always consider it a privilege to have had the opportuniy to have known Gene that well. Gene, God bless you and your family.

Jimmy
 
I photo of Gene

I didn't know Gene, but knew about him from Grissim's book. I don't think Grissim will be angry about violating the copyright laws to "steal" this photo of Gene from his book. Gene was one of the "good guys" of pool and a world-class player.
 

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That's where I read about him, in Grissim's book. What a pic!! He's got that look that he's on top of the world and loving life!

How about some stories? sjm? jimmyg? Anyone?

Barbara
 
Nagy

Barbara,
You may or may not know that Gene and George Balabushka were very close friends. When Gene played in a tournament George would travel just to watch Gene play. Their was once a time that Gene missed a shot and broke his Buskha shaft in half. The observers talked about how Gene broke the Bushka shaft in half every time he missed, but in reality it was only one shaft/one shot.
Gene Nagy will be missed but never forgotten.
:(
 
Awful news... Stu, thank you for that very sweet write-up.

Does anyone know if Gene was ever filmed playing? For those of us who hadn't had the opportunity to see him, something like that would be a true treasure.

- Steve
 
This is my first post into this group. I was just going to browse until I saw the news about Gene Nagey. I didn't know really know him, but I did play him two games of straight pool back in the 70s when he was in L.A. for the World Straight Pool Championship.

It was in Hollywood at the Ye Olde Billiard Den. I walked in and saw a guy practicing on the first table. People were watching. I assumed he was in the tournament because he was wearing a tuxedo. I asked his name. He said, "Gene Nagey." I had never heard of him. But I knew he had to be good to be in the tournament.

What impressed me right off was when I asked if he'd like to play a game of straight pool to 100 for $10.00 he didn't hesitate. Most good players won't play unless you're willing to play for more (at least that had been my experience). But Nagey didn't hesitate, and right away I respected that. He just wanted the practice, and I think I gave it to him. Both games were tight. I ran 30 or 40 one game, but somewhere down the line we got into a safety match and that's where he showed me a few things I wasn't ready for. I would have played him all night if I'd had enough cash to lose.

Anyway, just posting mainly to say that I respected Gene Nagey right from the start when he didn't hesitate to say yes when I asked him to play for a measly ten bucks. I don't remember much more about him other than that and the outstanding safety play that sapped the life out of me that night. I loved playing the guy and don't believe he laid down on me for even one second. Not only did I enjoy it, I think he did too. That is my only memory of Gene Nagey, that one night, 2 games to 100, but it's a nice memory I'll always have..........

Tommy Joe
 
Gene Nagy was a great, great player who could be his own worst enemy.
He did play in several major 14.1 events in the 1970's and usually finished in the middle of the pack. His problem being that if he missed a ball of played bad shape, he would become upset with himself and his game would suffer.

He had such high expectations and all the players knew he played as well as anyone there. He just put to much pressure on himself. Off the table he was always a gentleman, very approachable and easy to talk to. By the late 1970's, Gene had retired from competition.

From what I understand he would still come down to the pool room on his bicycle and practice nearly every day. He should be credited for teaching Jeanette Lee, among others. It's no wonder Jeanette plays such strong 14.1.
He was like the Bobby Fisher of pool, brilliant but seeking only privacy.
 
How old was Gene? Did he have a son (Mike?) who went to Bowling Green State U. (Ohio) ? Played with a Palmer. 1971.
 
jay helfert said:
He should be credited for teaching Jeanette Lee, among others. It's no wonder Jeanette plays such strong 14.1.
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Click to expand...

Jay,

I believe Gene coached Fran Crimi before the 14.1 tournament which was held at the Roseland Ballroom in NYC in 2000. Being a pool newbie, that was the first time I had heard of him.
 
I asked Wayne Norcross (TD at DannyK's) if he knew Gene Nagy, and he said he played him in a World Invitational in '73. He didn't say who won, but he said Gene was a great player. He said Gene was only 59.
 
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JohnnyP said:
I asked Wayne Norcross (TD at DannyK's) if he knew Gene Nagy, and he said he played him in a World Invitional in '73. He didn't say who won, but he said Gene was a great player. He said Gene was only 59.
Click to expand...


That sounds about right. I would have guessed around 60.
 
BilliarsDigest.com - Headstring News - Gene Nagy

Gene Nagy Dies at Age 59

Gene Nagy, legendary straight-pool player and longtime coach and mentor to many players including Jeanette Lee, passed away yesterday, July 13, at age 59.

Visitation will be held this Sunday, July 16, from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. at:

Kearns Funeral Home
61-40 Woodhaven Blvd.
Rego Park, N.Y.
(718) 441-3300

Nagy died of emphyzema and cancer of the lungs. He is survived by his aunt, Jean O'Brien, and many close friends and students.

Nagy was born Oct. 6, 1946 in New York. Before he became a highly respected pool player he was an accomplished musician. He started playing the trumpet at age 12 and attended the Juilliard School of Music at age 17.

Nagy didn't start playing pool until he was 18 years old, and by the time he was 23, he was invited to his first professional tournament. His lifetime personal high run of 430 is topped officially only by Thomas Engert, Min-Wai Chin, and Willie Mosconi. He is also known for running 150 and out in the 1973 World Straight Pool Open against Allen Hopkins.
Luther Lassiter was quoted as saying of Nagy, "That man was born to play this game."

Willie Mosconi commented on Nagy's style, saying, "It was the finest I had ever seen balls taken from the table."

By the late 1970s, Nagy had retired from competition, but continued to teach and mentor young players. Jeanette Lee, famous the world over as "The Black Widow" was one of his best students, and considered him a father.

Lee said of Nagy:

"Everything I know, I learned from him. He was my coach, my mentor, my friend, my father, my everything. Particularly for the first five years or so, when I first started playing pool."
Lee met Nagy when she was 19, through her then boyfriend, at a New York poolhall.

"From really that day on, he played me everyday of my life until I moved away. The poolroom opened at 11 a.m., we got there at 10, had coffee, and played until they closed at 11 at night. He never kept score. He really taught me the love of the game to always stay a student."
Lee credits all of her ability to Gene, as well as her character. She says that he taught humility by example. When she hit her first high run of 122, the very next inning, he ran 238.

"He’s the one who really gave me compassion and gave me humility. People probably wouldn't call me that, but as a student of the game I am. What it came down to was, he just taught me to love pool for the love of the game, above and beyond any kind of competitiveness or materialism or glory you could take from it. That's where my willingness to want to give back to this sport and do things for the growth of the game itself, comes from."

Lee also dedicated her 2001 book, "The Black Widow's Guide to Killer Pool" to Nagy.
 
For the sake of semantics, Gene's last name is pronounced similar to "nodge", without the "d", for those that didn't know...


Eric
 
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