Edward Dominic Nagel, born in Chicago, Illinois, on August 4th, 1941, and resided in Crestone, Colorado, entered into rest on April 9th, 2026. He was preceded in death by his mother, Helen Yanish; his first wife, Christina M. Lumley; two of his older brothers, Raymond M. Nagel, and spouse, Anne Nagel; and Joseph R. Nagel; and his nephew, Raymond Nagel Jr. The whereabouts of his father are unknown.

He is survived by his second wife, Mary Warner-Nagel; four children, Lee Ann Blue, and spouse Edward C. Blue, Kim Ellen Scott (spouse deceased), Wyatt Edward Nagel and spouse Lauren M. Nagel, and David Isaac Nagel; two step-children, Margaret Gold and Jason Gold; twelve grandchildren; twelve great-grandchildren; six nephews and five nieces; grand nephews and grand nieces, and his oldest brother, Frank J. Nagel Jr., and spouse Carol Nagel.

Ed lived a full life! After serving in the Navy from 1959-1963, he married. Ed taught in public schools in Buffalo, New York, and then headed west, looking for something less authoritarian than the public school system. He ended up settling with his young family in Santa Fe, New Mexico, in 1971. He and his wife joined the Santa Fe Community School, a private school, as teachers, and he later became principal. During that time, he moved his family to the hippy community that was aligned with the school.

In 1972, Ed filed suit against the New Mexico State Board of Education and fought for the Constitutional right of parents to educate their children as they saw fit. After losing in the lower courts, he won a favorable unanimous State Supreme Court vote. After that huge win, he traveled the country helping other parents in other states do the same, and has been credited by the American youth rights activist, author, and educator John Holt as "The Father of the Home-schooling movement in the United States."

In 1973, he founded and served as the CEO of the National Association for the Legal Support of Alternative Schools (NALSAS), through which he supported the modern homeschooling movement and accredited private schools across the country. This direction originally induced the IRS to deny NALSAS tax exemption. As NALSAS Coordinator, he sued the IRS, and won a decision in US Tax Court (NALSAS v. IRS, 71 T.C. No.11, 1978) and it was covered by the WALL STREET JOURNAL in a front-page article headlined: "IRS Arguments Flunked Out of Court."

In 1976, as an alternative even to his own alternative school, Ed advocated for homeschooling in his article "HOW TO AVOID COMPULSORY ATTENDANCE AT PUBLIC SCHOOL", published in a national education magazine, the New Schools Exchange.

In 1978, he authored the book, "CHEEZ! Uncle Sam." This controversial book on alternative education tells the TRUE story of how a small group of mostly low-income families adopted an educational pedagogy based on "free choice", and then fought against incredible governmental interference, finally to win legal recognition of their right to teach their own children in accordance with their sincerely-held beliefs.

In 1979, Ed authored another article, "A School Without a School (Home Study Thru SFCS)," which was published in the national magazine MOTHERING, by which, at that time, SFCS had enrolled over 100 students nationwide. Ed shared the principal duties with his best friend on and off from 1979-2011 when the Santa Fe Community School finally shut its doors.

He ran for Congress on the Libertarian ticket in 1992, '94, 96, and 98.

Ed and his first wife divorced in 1985. He remarried on August 12th, 2005. and they lived in Santa Fe until they relocated to Crestone, Colorado, in 2009, where his loving wife now resides.

Ed stood for justice and was a staunch constitutionalist. He loved people and was generous. He also loved camping, sailing, reading, writing poetry, teaching, playing chess, watching Bill's football games with his sons, and above all, watching movies with Mary by his side, and drinking wine! He was the most stubborn person his children have ever known, but he was deeply loved and will be missed!

Cremation was performed at the Rogers Family Mortuary Crematory and private services will be held.

Rogers Family Mortuary is in care of the arrangements. To leave online words of comfort, remembrances of Ed, or tributes for his family, please visit www.RogersFunerals.com