Frank J. Vogt, 91, passed away peacefully on June 9, 2022, at his home at the Windrows in Princeton, NJ.
Frank was born May 16, 1931, in Queens Village, NY to Clara and John Vogt. He and his sister, Annemarie (Vogt) Saccani, grew up in Bloomfield, NJ. He attended Newark State Teacher’s College (now Kean University) where he played varsity basketball and earned his B.S. degree in Industrial Arts and Elementary education. He then served two years in the U.S. Army as a radar specialist based in Formosa (Taiwan) during the Korean conflict. Frank continued his education earning two M.A.’s in education and administration from Montclair State University. Frank was a passionate educator for over 40 years serving as a teacher, a guidance counselor, and an administrator in the West Orange School system. He was President of both the Teacher’s and the Administrator’s Association. Frank was beloved by faculty and students and was widely recognized for his dedicated nurturing care of both.
Frank’s best decision was marrying Eileen Mary Reilly. They had a loving relationship over 58 years of marriage, meeting every challenge and joy together until Eileen’s death in 2014. Frank and Eileen lived for more than 50 years in West Orange and then moved to Princeton. Throughout his life Frank’s greatest devotion was to his family. Frank was known for his moral and physical strength and for his indefatigable work ethic as a provider—early in his teaching career he concurrently worked three jobs: in the early morning he was a milkman for Becker’s Farm, he would then teach, and then work nights as a master carpenter. Frank was supported by his Catholic faith and by serving as lecturer, a Holy Eucharist Minister, and a member of the Knights of Columbus. He enjoyed playing basketball with students and tennis and golf with life-long friends. A strong swimmer, he favored family vacations in Lake George, NY and at the family beach house in Manasquan, NJ where he rose early every morning to ride his bicycle built-for-two to the bakery and left the beach first to get fresh Jersey corn and prepare dinner—what wonderful times were had. In retirement, Frank thoroughly enjoyed being helping grandparent at the University League Nursery School, cheering at his grandsons’ Little League and soccer games, enjoying his grandsons’ singing with the American Boychoir, and being the go-to repair person at the Windrows.
Frank is survived by his son, Thomas F. Vogt, and his wife, Gwen Guglielmi, who was a loving supporter and organizer of his care. He is also survived by their sons Ryan, Tyler and his wife Shannon, and Eric, and by his daughter Susan (Vogt) Guidone, whose music, especially in his later years, brought him joy, and her husband Glenn Guidone, and their sons; Justin, Evin, and Austin, by his sister-in-law, Margaret Oates and by many nieces, nephews, and family members and by legions of students he influenced and friends he cherished.
The family is very grateful to Frank’s life-long friends, Eileen, and Don Hoffler, to his physician, Dr. David Barile, and to his dedicated caregivers Robert Nkomo, Marcia Higginbotham, Cindy Odinacach, and Chris Godsent who lovingly supported him during the homestretch of his life.
Frank’s life may be remembered by donations to the Princeton BoyChoir/Westrick Music Academy and The Jackson Laboratory. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Queenship of Mary Roman Catholic Church, 16 Dey Road, Plainsboro Township, NJ 08536, on Saturday June 25th at 10:30 AM followed by a reception. Funeral and cremation services provided by Mather-Hodge Funeral Home, 40 Vandeventer Ave., Princeton, NJ.