Biography: Richard “Dick” Recher Nugent, devoted father and husband, died in the early morning of Sunday, January 30th, 2022, at home in Little Rock surrounded by his loving family.
 
He is survived by his beloved wife, Catherine; daughter Stephanie (Robin), granddaughter Savannah; son Erik (Claudia), grandson Tiago; son Benjamin (Jennifer), grandchildren Maggie Rose and Miles; and preceded in death by parents Fred Bard Nugent and Marie Recher Nugent and sister Martha Harden.
 
Dick was born in Reading, Pennsylvania on April 27,1940. He received his undergraduate degree from Amherst College in 1962, his medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania in 1966, trained in Obstetrics and Gynecology in Burlington, VT, received his master’s degree in Public Health from the University of North Carolina in 1973, and was board certified in Preventive Medicine.
 
He pursued a career in Public Health, researching, devising, and implementing programs to lower infant mortality rates. He was the Medical Director of the North Carolina State-Wide Perinatal Program and Assistant Chief of the Women’s Health section from 1974-1982. And then from 1982-2010 was Director of Maternal and Child Health for the Bureau of Public Health Programs for the Arkansas Department of Health. He also served as Professor in the Department of Health Policy and Management in the College of Public Health, UAMS, where he was instrumental in overseeing the development of the Maternal and Child Health branch of the UAMS Master’s in Public Health. He worked tirelessly for the advancement of perinatal care in Arkansas, particularly for those in rural and/or underserved communities.
 
He was honored with many awards through his career including the Ross Award for Distinguished Service in Maternal and Child Healthcare, given annually by the Southern Health Association for Outstanding Service and Contributions to Public Health (2008); the Angels, Hawks-Workman Perinatal Award, for his contribution to the health and welfare of mothers and babies in Arkansas (2008); and in recognition for many years of outstanding service and contributions to the nation’s mothers and children, adolescents and children with special health needs: the HRSA Maternal and Child Health Bureau Director’s Award (2009) and the HRSA Maternal and Child Health Bureau Director’s Award, both bestowed by the US Department of Health Resources and Services (2009).
 
A celebration of life with friends, colleagues, and loved ones will be held on Friday, February 18, 2022 from 3 to 5 p.m. at Ruebel Funeral Home in Little Rock. A private interment will be held at the Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery in North Little Rock. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the March of Dimes.  Arrangements are under the direction of RuebelFuneralHome.com