Thomas Francis Hogan's Obituary
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Thomas Francis Hogan in Oakland, CA at the age of 62. Born in Hartford, CT, Tom is predeceased by his parents Joan and Matthew Hogan, and his siblings Ann and Larry. He is survived by siblings Matthew Bhima Hogan, Joan Reinhart (Jim), and Laura Hogan (Noel Kurtz), and niece Melanie Kohler and family, nephew Malachi Bray and family, and cousins Kurt Johnson and Lisa Surphlis and families. Also very dear to Tom were his many, many friends, including David Ruiz, Jr., and Tom’s service dog “Chicken”.
Tom grew up in Hartford. An avid bookworm, he had a fondness for “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz”. The family moved to Westbrook, CT in 1975 where Tom loved walking a moonlit Chapman Beach and doing portrait photography. He made close friends at high school, played the Scarecrow in the Wizard of Oz there, and went on to Hofstra University to study Drama. On graduation he moved to Manhattan, fitting deftly into city life, completing 24-hour Dance-a-Thons for good causes, volunteering at the GMHC (Gay Men’s Health Center) to do Safe Sex Advocacy during the AIDs epidemic, and still visiting home to play Bridge and swing dance with his mother Joan at Bill’s Seafood. But the music Tom truly dug was 1980’s music including Madonna, Blondie, and the B52’s. Eventually he moved to San Francisco’s Mission district, became active in Gay Pride events there, loved walking Golden Gate park, sailed the bay, and eventually moved to Oakland.
Civically-minded and linguistically capable, Tom learned Arabic, after French, and taught in the Peace Corps in Morocco from 1983-1985; once back in the US he worked to help eradicate hatred of Muslims. Being artistic led to jobs such as graphic designer for “The Mask” movie DVD, as fine art auctioneer bidder, and as filmographer for the NYC musical “Tony and Tina’s Wedding”. Tom’s flair for ballroom dance swept him into an Infomercial gig for Joe Namath with Tom feigning missteps until after Joe’s instruction. His 100-situps-a-day led to being a NYC urban power yoga instructor and later a bicycle tour guide of wineries near San Francisco, while his friendly organizational style resulted in him being a coordinator, and carpenter in the build of the man, for the big community-focused art event in the desert, Burning Man. Extremely comfortable in his own skin Tom brought hugging, and saying ILY into our family lexicon.
In lieu of flowers, consider a donation to the National Kidney Foundation (www.kidney.org) or the Peace Corps at www.peacecorps.gov/donate/, and please check for details to come on a Spring 2024 Memorial gathering for Tom at hayward.chapelofthechimes.com/obituaries.
Please join us to remember Tom together Sunday June 16, 2024 on the Cross Sound Cruises "Lights & Sights Cruise", their 2-hour boat tour from New London, CT during which we hope to scatter Tom's ashes in Long Island Sound (www.lighthouse.cruises). Arrive by 1:30 at the Ferry Terminal, 2 Ferry St., New London. Let Laura ([email protected]) know by May 31 if you'll join us and we will buy tickets. Bring food to share if you'd like. Rain or shine.
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