John Holger Nygaard
January 24, 1969 - November 29, 2012
Obituary
John Holger Nygaard was born January 24, 1969 in Seattle, WA and passed away unexpectedly in his home in Ballard due to complications of pneumonia on November 29, 2012. Beloved husband and proud father, John will forever be remembered by his devoted wife, Michelle, and his pride and joy, his young son, Jakob. He was preceded in death by his parents Jakob (Jack) and Beverly Nygaard.
John also leaves behind extended family here in the US and in Norway, a host of lifelong friends, impacted students, and colleagues whom were blessed to know him.
John was a 1987 graduate of Ballard High School and received his Bachelor’s degree and teaching certificate from Western Washington University. John achieved his goals of becoming a Ballard High School history teacher and coach and positively affecting young people. He was in his 8th year teaching History and Maritime History at BHS and he also worked with students with special needs. John coached in the Boys Basketball program for the last 10 years and was the advisor to the Scandinavian Club. A proud Norwegian, John loved organizing a group of students and teachers to participate in the Syttende Mai Parade each year.
John grew up fishing alongside his father in the San Juan Islands (Mackaye Harbor, Lopez Island) on his dad’s boat, the John H. He continued the family tradition to this day spending his summers fishing in Bristol Bay, Alaska.
John touched the lives of many with his kind heart and dedication to his family, friends, and students. He will be greatly missed.
The “John Nygaard Memorial Fund” has been set up at Bank of America to help support his family.
Services will be held Wednesday, December 5th at 3pm at Ballard First Lutheran Church, 2006 NW 65th St, Seattle. Reception to follow at Leif Erikson Hall, 2245 NW 57th St, Seattle.
i want to thank mr. nygaard for every thing he had though me threw out my years at ballard high school and threw maritime. he was always a smiling face in the hallways and in the classroom. he always had march madness on his room and we could go in there and watch it during his lunch or if you had him as a teacher. his son and wife were his world. he always had pictuers of his son with him that he would show you. my prays and thoughts go out to him wife son and his family and his basketball family. thank you nygaard for everything you have done for me and for my little sister
i want to thank mr. nygaard for every thing he had though me threw out my years at ballard high school and threw maritime. he was always a smiling face in the hallways and in the classroom. he always had march madness on his room and we could go in there and watch it during his lunch or if you had him as a teacher. his son and wife were his world. he always had pictuers of his son with him that he would show you. my prays and thoughts go out to him wife son and his family and his basketball family. thank you nygaard for everything you have done for me and for my little sister
Sorry for your lost.
So sorry to hear about your loss. I knew both John and his parents along with his brother Fred. I coached John in basketball at Ballard Community Center, he was a great guy and I will miss his great smile and attitude.
i am sorry for your loss. He was a great teacher that i had and i am so sad that he had to go because i he was healthy but i knew in my junior year that there was something wrong with him when he collapsed in the middle of his speech and want to thank him for teaching me stuff that i didnt know before and it sucks that it was like 5 months after i graduated that he passed so i feel sad about that but i was glad that he lived through my graduation but it sucks for the students he did have that wont be there for 🙁
🙁 🙁 🙁 🙁 🙁
Mr Nygaard was an assistant teacher in my art class at Whitman when he was first earning his teaching chops. He was always a joy to be around and I will always remember the positivity he showed me even when I was acting out and being a little rebel. He is greatly missed.
So sorry to hear of John’s passing. I was 10 years old when I met John the year was 1971. His parents Jack and Bev were a big part of the (Fish Camp) on Lopez Island. I was very fond of Johnnie and his cousin Michole. We all got along like family. I once asked Johnnie what the H stood for on his father’s boat, the John H. His reply was … Horse S–t. I think he was. 3 or 4 years old at the time. …. Well Johnnie I miss you and your parents too. I have so many wonderful memories of your family, SCOTT
I bought some ACDC records today and remembered how much Nygaard meant to me. I was a messed up and sad kid in high school. He took me under his wing freshman year, sponsored my after school Rock n Roll club and talked to me about music all the time. We had a shared love for ACDC and even went to a show at Tacoma Dome together.
Without you cheering me up and pushing me to succeed, I may have just ended my own life back then.
RIP Nygaard. Miss ya \m/
He was one of my favorite teachers in BHS. One of the few classes I enjoyed going to. He used to get us (his history students) prizes for doing good work in his class. My group and I once won a group project and he said he’d get us something from the store. I asked for a lemon lime Gatorade thinking I’d get a regular sized one… when my group and I got to class and we got out prizes I came to find out he got me the biggest Gatorade they were selling at the time. And same with the group members. He didn’t just get us the least he could, but the best there was. He was one of the coolest teachers in BHS and not only because he’d get us things from time to time, but because he understood his students and was relatable. He passed only 3 months ago after I graduated. I found out about the news when I was going home from work on the bus. First time I broke down about a former teacher passing. He lives in the memory of his students and BHS staff.
Over 12 years later, the loss of Mr Nygaard still hurts. I graduated in 2010 and he stood out as one of the best teachers due to his compassion and passion towards teaching his students. He was always a joy to chat with a few minutes before Maritime US History class began in the morning. I fondly remember him coming along on Maritime Academy trips, specifically the 2009 trip to California Maritime Academy in San Francisco. I have a vivid memory of himself and a few students playing volley ball and he said something hilarious, causing me to miss the ball. But I didn’t care! He added to the fun and unforgettable experience of that trip. My other vivid memory entails him taking myself and two other students to In n Out, while everyone else had seafood. He wanted to make it a point that we experienced something in California that we couldn’t in WA. It was way too good! Every few years, he crosses my mind and I am so thankful that he was my teacher, and so many others.
“John-Boy”….Shocked and so sad to look you up and see you have passed…. I knew John many many years ago, through his fishing family best friends, the Sheldon’s and worked with him for a couple of fishing seasons. But saw him every time I came to Seattle to visit. I’m so sorry for your loss.
What I’m not shocked to see, is what John made of himself or the personal things he accomplished in the years since being deckhands together back in the late 90’s. By reading the other posts on here, and his obituary, doesn’t surprise me at all- I am just so sad to know he is no longer with us and can no longer touch the people in the way that he did.
He taught me how to navigate the fishing tender we worked on, he taught me to ALWAYS have a knife attached to my rain gear, and if a cable snaps on one of the cranes, hit the deck!!!
John was super funny, almost always happy, liked to tease, as well as got teased(I used to call him “Lurch” and, well, I won’t tell you what he used to call me! 😳) Lol
It’s so weird because I picture him as this big, strong, kind, easy going, a friend to everyone, healthy guy….and he’s gone.
I never met his wife or son, only his mother, but she’s passed away too, but to his beautiful little family, no matter where you are or what you’re doing now, I am thinking of you and my heart goes out to you.
With Love and Sincerity,
– Kyrsten “KC” Baumgart