John William Nugent passed away from Multiple Myeloma on February 14, 2026. He was born on March 25, 1950 to Jim and Theresa Willems Nugent in Butte, Montana. His family moved to Missoula when John was a toddler. He attended St. Francis Grade School and Loyola High School where he began his Jesuit Education. He then studied in a Jesuit Seminary and earned a BA in Philosophy from Gonzaga University. He later earned an MA from San Francisco Theological Seminary.

As a child, John struggled with dyslexia and other difficulties that made learning a challenge. He met this challenge and grew to love reading. Before the Age of Kindle, he had floor to ceiling bookshelves in his home, with hundreds of volumes.

John’s career path took him in several directions: all focused on care for his fellow human beings. His social service work took him to a variety of retirement and care facilities in Alaska, Kansas, California and Washington State. He was creative and innovative in these placements. For example, in Seattle at Providence-Saint Vincent, a facility with 500 employees, he initiated the Intergenerational Learning Center, still active today. He created a policy to provide childcare for employees at the facility and to include senior citizens who volunteered to interact with children. He made it a desired place to work and added purpose and joy to the residents of his center.

He then worked at Hospices in Spokane and Coeur d’Alene and eventually went to work for Planned Parenthood. His leadership role in Idaho led to his appointment as Director of Planned Parenthood for the state of Maryland. In that post, he became very active in the national organization. In all these positions, he placed the needs of people first and found ways to help them. He described his profession as an “Organizational Transformation Agent”and worked diagnosing and transforming businesses, primarily nonprofits. Basically, he devoted his life to ministering to human needs, human connections and social justice.

He moved to San Diego after retirement, becoming active in the San Diego Mission Planning Council and many other groups. John was a 50-year blood donor. He moved to Missoula in 2018 and immediately became a key member of many organizations. He became board president of Missoula Senior Citizens Center, shepherding it through financial difficulties and the challenges caused by Covid.
John’s kindness and care always included his family. He married his first love, Janet Murken, who brought her wonderful sons, Bill and Jon to the family. They were happy together for 45 years. He is survived by his last love, companion and caregiver Susan Matule and his sons and their partners: William Nugent and Bonnie and Jon Nugent and Hannah. He had five grandchildren. His granddaughter Mandi will always hold a special place in his heart.

He dearly loved and felt gratitude to be survived by four siblings and their spouses: Jim and Janice Nugent, Teri and Dale Fellon, Tina and Gary Bright and Joe and Nancy Nugent. He loved his many nephews and nieces. His family and friends are profoundly grateful to Susan for the loving, thoughtful and wonderful care she gave John. She was an angel.

When John retired to Missoula he found a home with Spirit of Peace Community. He often gave homilies which were carefully written and researched and always had a touch of humor. He gave his last homily about a month before he died, sharing wisdom about facing death. He was truly an unusual man. An amazing conversationalist, he could draw information from a corgi! He listened. He had a phenomenal memory, a great sense of humor and was a voracious reader. He was truly kind, filled with gratitude and easy to love.

“To love another person is to see the face of God.”
Victor Hugo