Ohio's Golf Magazine — June 2009
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Longtime Northern Ohio PGA Official Nageotte Dies
A shadow was cast over the Ohio Senior Open with the death of longtime Northern Ohio PGA member Joe Nageotte. The 85- year-old Nageotte, who was known as the “Rules Guru” for his knowledge of USGA and PGA rules, suffered a heart attack at Firestone Country Club on May 12, the evening before the opening round of the Senior Open. He passed away two days later at the Akron General Medical Center.
Nageotte, of Huron, was a 55-year member of the Northern Ohio PGA section and served as its tournament director from 1988-2005 and rules director since 1988. He coordinated and conducted the first advanced rules workshops conducted by the PGA and USGA and continued to organize rules workshops for both organizations into his 80s.
Dominic Antenucci, executive director of the Northern Ohio PGA, met Nageotte when Antenucci joined the section as an apprentice in 1973.
“Joe was a golf professional, but he always had an affinity for the rules,” Antenucci told Ohio’s Golf.
“We could always call him and ask him any question. He would make time for you no matter what he was doing.
When you would ask Joe a question about the rules, you knew he knew the answer and he knew he knew the answer, but he would never give you a condescending answer or talk down to you. He always tried to educate you and was always very friendly.” Nageotte served in the Army in World War II. He was a club pro at Plum Brook Country Club from 1958-1983 and was inducted into the Northern Ohio PGA Hall of Fame in 1997. He is survived by seven children, nine grandchildren and his wife of 50 years.
“In his later years he started doing crossword puzzles and worked on them so rapidly you would think he wrote them,” Antenucci said. “He kept his mind sharp and was quick witted. We are going to miss him as a person and as a rules official.” Memorial contributions may be made to the Joe Nageotte Scholarship Fund, c/o Eric Muehlhauser, 165 E. Washington Row, Sandusky, Ohio 44870, or to St. Peter Catholic School, Huron, Ohio.
Nageotte, of Huron, was a 55-year member of the Northern Ohio PGA section and served as its tournament director from 1988-2005 and rules director since 1988. He coordinated and conducted the first advanced rules workshops conducted by the PGA and USGA and continued to organize rules workshops for both organizations into his 80s.
Dominic Antenucci, executive director of the Northern Ohio PGA, met Nageotte when Antenucci joined the section as an apprentice in 1973.
“Joe was a golf professional, but he always had an affinity for the rules,” Antenucci told Ohio’s Golf.
“We could always call him and ask him any question. He would make time for you no matter what he was doing.
When you would ask Joe a question about the rules, you knew he knew the answer and he knew he knew the answer, but he would never give you a condescending answer or talk down to you. He always tried to educate you and was always very friendly.” Nageotte served in the Army in World War II. He was a club pro at Plum Brook Country Club from 1958-1983 and was inducted into the Northern Ohio PGA Hall of Fame in 1997. He is survived by seven children, nine grandchildren and his wife of 50 years.
“In his later years he started doing crossword puzzles and worked on them so rapidly you would think he wrote them,” Antenucci said. “He kept his mind sharp and was quick witted. We are going to miss him as a person and as a rules official.” Memorial contributions may be made to the Joe Nageotte Scholarship Fund, c/o Eric Muehlhauser, 165 E. Washington Row, Sandusky, Ohio 44870, or to St. Peter Catholic School, Huron, Ohio.
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