Patrick Nagle, 48, computer firm owner

He was a “techie” who also liked working with his hands and dealing with people.

Patrick Nagle combined those interests when he started his business, Dunwoody Network Systems, in 2000 after a career as an accountant and corporate controller. He was the sole owner of the business, which specialized in installing and maintaining Microsoft-based systems for professional service firms and small businesses.

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Family photo

Patrick Nagle, here with his dog Riley, was known for an encyclopedic memory and for his people skills.

“It was perfect for him,” said his wife, Constance Nagle of Dunwoody. “He loved the challenge of coming up with a solution to a sticky problem and he was very mechanically adept. He also loved to be around people.”

Mr. Nagle was always available to clients, his wife said, even while attending his children’s sporting events.

“His signature Bluetooth headset was the object of much good-natured teasing,” Mrs. Nagle said.

Mr. Nagle, 48, died of colon cancer Sunday at his home in Dunwoody. The funeral will be at noon today at All Saints Catholic Church in Dunwoody. H.M. Patterson & Sons, Oglethorpe Hill Chapel, is in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Nagle was born in Portsmouth, Va., and raised in Atlanta, graduating from Marist School in 1978. He earned dual degrees in accounting and computer science from Georgia State University.

He had a great memory for obscure facts about a variety of subjects, from automobiles to history, and family members consulted him as if he were an encyclopedia, his wife said.

“If anyone ever needed to check a fact, the response usually was, ‘Ask Patrick,’ because he would usually know,” Mrs. Nagle said.

Mr. Nagle was an advocate for cityhood for Dunwoody, which he felt would give the community greater say over such things as recreation areas.

He enjoyed watching his children participate in their activities, whether it was football or orchestra, and he was rarely absent from the bleachers or the audience, his wife said.

The Fourth of July parade was a big social event with their friends. Every year their “viewing area” became more and more elaborate and included chairs, tents, bunting, patriotic music and electric fans, Mrs. Nagle said.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by his two teenaged children, Christopher and Alexandra, both of Dunwoody; his mother, Patricia Nagle of Atlanta; and a brother, Chip Nagle of Atlanta.