SARAH DEEM HOGAN: Mother, Educator, Environmentalist & Friend May 11, 1937 – June 29, 2013 Obituary “For whatever we lose(like a you or a me) it’s always ourselves we find in the sea.” E.E. Cummings. Ms. Sarah Deem Hogan passed away peacefully surrounded by family on June 29, 2013. Sarah was born in 1937 and grew up in Annapolis, MD. After graduating from Emma Willard and Vassar College, Sarah worked for United Airlines in Washington, D.C. before moving to St. Pete Beach, FL, in 1963. Sarah embraced the Florida sun, heat and humidity and, fittingly, spent the last week of her life surrounded by family taking in both sunsets over the Gulf and sunrises over the Atlantic. Raising her beloved children, Kathleen, Tim and Eric, on St. Pete Beach was Sarah’s joy. Always the selfless provider, Sarah scheduled her work life at the Careless Navigator and the Kopper Kitchen so she was home each afternoon to make sure her children paid proper attention to their studies. Only after her youngest was successfully settled at the University of Florida did Sarah pursue her dream of teaching, and in 1988 she achieved her Masters of Education degree at the University of South Florida. Sarah began teaching in 1986 while pursuing her Masters, and started her career teaching English at Boca Ciega High School. She was proud to then join the International Baccalaureate Program at St. Petersburg High School, where she taught English until she retired in 2004. In addition to her love for teaching and Education, Sarah was a tireless environmentalist, lover of all things cultural and never afraid to roll up her sleeves to contribute to the Tampa Bay Community. Sarah was known for cleaning up the local beaches and waterways while kayaking and beach-walking, and for building “Oyster Domes” for Tampa Bay Watch, where this year she was named “Volunteer of the Year.” Sarah’s commitment to community included volunteering at Clearwater Marine Aquarium, St. Pete Beach Library, Studio@620 and freeFall Theatre. She loved supporting the American Stage Theatre Company and sharing countless joy-filled events with the Al Downing Tampa Bay Jazz Association, Inc. - where she served as the Board’s Director of Membership. A prolific reader, Sarah was passionate about literature and words, often juggling multiple books and subjects simultaneously and routinely completing, in INK, the weekend NY Times Crossword Puzzle. Her love for all sports was especially pronounced when the game involved tennis, the Tampa Bay Rays and the Florida Gators. Sarah had many groups of beloved friends that gathered regularly and will miss her deeply. She held in her heart a special fondness for her Fancy and Laid Back Ladies. Sarah is survived by her three children, Kathleen Wolf (Ed), Timothy H. Hogan, and Eric D. Hogan (Skip Kirst); grandchildren Michelle Thompson (Bill), Sam Hogan and Murphy Hogan; brother, Joseph Deem; and her beloved nieces and nephews through the extended families of Mary Deem and Pat Anderson. Sarah is predeceased by her parents, Naval Captain Joseph and Enid Deem. A celebration of Sarah’s life will be announced separately. The family requests that in lieu of flowers any donations be made in Sarah’s memory to Tampa Bay Watch, 3000 Pinellas Bayway S., Tierra Verde, FL 33715, tampabaywatch.org, (727) 867-8166.
Posted on: Mon, 01 Jul 2013 19:41:59 +0000