Paul R. Nusser, a longtime Treasurer of Bowling Green State University who was instrumental in arranging the financing for many campus residence halls and auxiliaries, died Friday August 2, 2024. He was 91 years old.
When BGSU experienced a building boom in the 1960’s and early 1970’s, Mr. Nusser helped secure funding through the sale of revenue bonds to build several residence halls as well as the ice arena and other non-state funded structures.
Born March 1, 1933, at Fostoria City Hospital to Wynetta Elizabeth (Miller) Nusser and Carl Andrew Nusser. In 1937 the family moved to a farm on McDougal Road, just east of Fostoria. He is the only survivor of his three student first grade class at Punk Hollow School, a one-room country school just east of Fostoria. He also attended Hopewell Loudon School in Bascom until shortly after his father died in 1944. Following his father’s death, the family moved back to Fostoria.
Mr. Nusser graduated from Fostoria high school in 1950 and attended Capital University for one year before enlisting in the U.S. Air Force where he attained the rank of Staff Sergeant at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, AZ before being honorably discharged in 1955. He returned to Ohio with his wife, Marilyn Jean (Snyder) Nusser and daughter, Cynthia Lou, to attend Bowling Green State University. He obtained his Bachelor of Science in business administration degree in 1958. After working four years for a CPA firm in Bowling Green, he joined the University staff as Internal Auditor in 1961. He retired from BGSU in 1986 after serving the last 15 years as the University’s Treasurer. He subsequently served as Treasurer for 15 years of Systems Associates, Inc., Internet Direct, Inc., and Progress Industrial Park, Inc., in Bowling Green until his most recent retirement in 2001.
During his working career he washed windows (Stevens Jewelry in Fostoria), shined shoes (David & Roy’s Shoe Repair), delivered newspapers (Toledo Blade), sold men’s clothing (Peter’s Clothing Store), before being hired at Dickens & Wonders Studio as a lab technician and photographer. It was there that he got started in what became his life-long picture taking hobby. While attending BGSU he also pumped gasoline on the Ohio Turnpike, worked at Larry’s Men’s shop in Bowling Green and was employed as an auditor for Dun & Bradstreet.
Mr. Nusser is survived by his wife of 72 years, daughters, Cynthia Rodgers and Lynn Blovits, both of Westerville; and son, Douglas of Woodville. He is also survived by grandchildren Nathan Rodgers, Michelle Rodgers Langston, Hannah Nusser Marchetto, Maxwell Nusser, Kylie Blovits and Seth Blovits and nine great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by sister, Fairy Ann Dyer; his mother, father and stepfather, Jacob Maurer.
He and Marilyn took their family on many tent-camping trips throughout the United States before acquiring their cottage on Mullet Lake in northern Michigan in 1976.
Mr. Nusser is a former treasurer of Ohio Association of College and University Business Officers (OACUBO), which served all Ohio higher educational institutions. He also was Treasurer for the East Mullet Lake Property Owners Association located on Mullett Lake in Northern Michigan where the family has had a summer cottage for many years. He was also President for the lake association.
Mr. Nusser helped produce Ice Horizons, a hugely popular skating show that entertained thousands at the BGSU Ice Arena through the years. And thanks to Bowling Green Native Scott Hamilton, whose career started in Ice Horizons, the show attracted many Olympic skaters.
In 1969, Mr. Nusser was general chairman of Ice Horizons and he and Marilyn skated in the show for several years.
Organizations in which he was active included First Presbyterian Church of Bowling Green, where he had served as an Elder and Trustee, the Bowling Green Income Tax Board, Omicron Delta Kappa (an honorary fraternity) since 1984, the Wood County Airport Authority for 15 years, the Bowling Green Exchange Club since 1979 and six years as is Treasurer.
Services for Paul are going to be held privately with the Nusser family. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Dunn Funeral Home located in the Historical District of Bowling Green, Ohio at 408 W. Wooster St.
Memorial contributions may be given to First Presbyterian Church Bowling Green, Ohio located at 126 S. Church St.
To leave an online condolence or fond memory with the family please visit www.dunnfuneralhome.com.
