Born in Port Townsend, Washington, the son and grandson of loggers, Jack Nagel lived a large life, one that enabled an obituary to label him a “legendary skier, aviator, coach, Olympian, and storyteller.” After making the 1952 Winter Olympic team, he returned to Washington where he taught skiers at Stevens Pass and Crystal Mountain, founding the Crystal Mountain Alpine Club (CMAC). He and his wife raised two daughters who competed for the US in skiing. His oldest, Cathy, won three gold medals at the 1967 Winter Universiade in Germany, while Judy Nagel competed on the World Cup circuit and at the 1968 Winter Olympics. Cathy later designed skiwear and the Nagel family started their own company to distribute it. Later in life, he became a pilot, practicing acrobatic flying, and he also was known as a local motorboat racer.
United States