Obituary of James R Naugler

James (Jim) Richard Naugler (February 6, 1950 – October 18, 2023) We are saddened to announce James (Jim) Richard Naugler passed away on October 18, 2023 after a battle with cancer. Jim was born in Bridgewater, Nova Scotia on February 6th, 1950 to Helen and George Blake Naugler. Jim will be missed by his loving wife, Wendy Gardiner; daughters, Kaitlin Stanzel (Roger), and Brittany Leahey (Shawn); brother-in-law, Kenneth Gardiner (Kim); grandchildren, Ethan Stanzel and Blake Leahey, extended family, and friends. Jim was an active athlete/competitor, volunteer coach and administrator in many sports locally, provincially, nationally, and internationally. Jim had a 34-year career with the City of Halifax/Halifax Regional Municipality, with his last position with the city being Project/Facility Manager before he retired in 2009. Following his retirement, he continued his career in private enterprise as a Senior Manager in sport facilities development. Accomplishments: • Jim attended Dalhousie University in 1973 and completed a Bachelor of Physical Education. He went on to do course work for a Masters of Science in Recreation Education in Boston at Northeastern University. • He had an extensive athletic career in many sports including basketball, track, and ball hockey among many others. He had an elite career in Track and Field and his greatest achievement was that he still holds the record for the 2-mile Dartmouth Natal Day road race. • Jim was the General Manager of the Red Fox Senior Women’s Basketball team. The first and only women’s Nova Scotian team to win the National title. • Jim coached Soccer starting when he attended university where he coached the Nova Scotia Canada Games Boys soccer team in 1972 and again in 2007 and 2009. • He completed many National level certification coaching courses over the years. • Jim was invested in sports development in many ways in the province of Nova Scotia. • He was involved in the community, organizing fundraisers for Phoenix House. Jim and his wife Wendy were together for 49 years and were married 47 years ago on September 11, 1976. Jim loved his family and had a special love for his grandchildren Ethan (Stanzel) and Blake (Leahey). He also loved his dogs Coco and Copper, Daschunds, that he treated as if they were also children. Jim was never one to sit still and he has too many accomplishments to list. He loved movies, going with family and friends, and was a collector of many things and memorabilia. He loved going to the Halifax Mooseheads as a long-standing season ticket holder and watching and attending any sporting event. He was so excited to have attended the recent NHL preseason game in Halifax on October 2nd in order to see hometown hero, Sidney Crosby play. Jim appreciated and would like to have thanked many people for help over the last number of months and years. Outside of his daughters and their spouses, he wanted to say a very special thanks to his best friend Allan Waye who has been a tremendous help and support and to thank him for being a “Very good Uber driver”. There are many friends he wanted to thank but he could not write them all, thanks to Kim Houston, Ralph Killam and Kim Stairs for daily and weekly supports. In his final written notes, Jim wrote the following about his wife Wendy and family: “We have been married for 47 years and were fortunate enough to have two exceptional daughters. We are proud to maintain the love between us over this length of time. With the ups and downs of life, our family has come together through it all. All are deep in our hearts forever”. There will be a visitation November 1st from 4-7 p.m. in T.J. Tracey Cremation and Burial Specialists, 71 McQuade Lake Crescent, , (902) 835-4212. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Kids Sport at Sport Nova Scotia.