Leonard N. Nugen

Leonard N. Nugen was born in Beards Fork West Virginia in 1924; he was 94 when he passed away at Alaska Veteran & Pioneer Home, May 5, 2018. Leonard enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1943 and served aboard the USS Philip destroyer in the South Pacific during World War II, earning several medals. After discharge from the Navy, Leonard returned to West Virginia and married, he had four children; however, his alcohol use destroyed the marriage. In 1964, he married Henrietta; and adopted Henrietta’s two children, residing in Salem Oregon, until moving to Anchorage in 1966. Leonard and Henrietta managed the Studio Club in Anchorage. The Studio Club was the first half-way house for recovering alcoholics. As recovering alcoholic’s themselves, they recognize the need for safe sober housing. Before moving to Alaska, their home was always open to people needing safe sober family home, to recover from alcohol. Working with recovering alcoholics was natural for Leonard. When the Studio Club lost the building, Leonard and Henrietta approached the Board of Directors of the Studio Club, concerning the need for a long-term residential treatment program for alcoholics. The Board agreed property was purchased in the Mat-Su Valley, buildings renovated and Nugen’s Ranch was developed. Leonard was a visionary in the field of substance abuse residential treatment. Nugen’s Ranch opened in 1981, on the Palmer-Wasilla Highway. Leonard served as the Procurement/Treatment Director of Nugen’s Ranch from 1981 to 1994. Leonard was a formable advocate for Chronic Alcoholics, and instrumental in Nugen’s Ranch involvement in the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority, ensuring the inclusion of Chronic Alcoholics as beneficiary of the trust. As a World War II vet, Leonard was chosen to participate on the Honor Flight in October 2013. His son Eddie accompanied Leonard on the flight. Leonard was proud of his service; the 2013 flight was a highlight, he was proud to wear the jacket that indicated he was an honor flight participant. Leonard is preceded in death by his parents, daughters Doris and Sue, and his wife Henrietta Nugen. Leonard is survived by Sandy Rutherford, Eddie and Nancy Nugen, James and Dawn Nugen, Karen Nugen-Logan and Fordyce Logan, and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren. A celebration of life will be held at Nugen’s Ranch on Saturday, June 23, 2018, at 1:30PM. In lieu of flowers, the family request that memorial donations be made to Nugen’s Ranch, P.O. Box 871545, Wasilla, AK 99687.