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Gary Bogart (1942 - 2018)
ST. PETE BEACH, FL. — Gary L. Bogart, of St. Pete Beach, Florida, died on June 19, 2018, after a long illness.
Gary was born in Alton, Illinois, on Sept. 11, 1942, to Joseph and Bernice Bogart. A graduate of Alton High School and Northwestern University, he held master's degrees from the University of Illinois and from Southern Illinois University.
Gary was an editor at the H.W. Wilson Company in New York City for many years. Gary later held administrative positions at New York Public Library. He moved to Florida in 2000 to become Assistant Director of Pinellas Park Public Library. He retired in 2010.
Gary was a long-time member of Christ and St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in New York City and the Cathedral Church of St. Peter.
In retirement, Gary was active in the Academy of Senior Professionals at Eckerd College (ASPEC).
Gary is survived by his wife of 42 years, Cathy Rentschler; his brother J. Ronald Bogart (Bloomington, Illinois); brother-in-law Bob (Nancy) Rentschler of Birmingham, Alabama; nieces Luanne Bogart (Pekin, Illinois), Stacy Hembree (Normal, Illinois), Erika Harvell (Birmingham, Alabama) and Britt Rentschler (Los Angeles); and several cousins, including Dennis Milford (Boston), who often attended the opera with Gary in New York.
Gary was preceded in death by his parents.
An extended obituary with online guestbook may be found at: nationalcremation.com/obituaries.
Published in The Telegraph from July 7 to July 8, 2018 nationalcremation.com/obituaries
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Marilyn Hope Waide (Lake)
I was very sad to hear of Gary's long illness and death. He was a really nice person. We were in band and various other Alton High activities together. I considered him a good friend. I had forgotten that he was a cousin of Dennis Milford who also was active in drama club and a good friend. Condolence to Dennis and other friends and family. May we all meet in heaven some day in the future.
Roger Cooke
Gary was a very likable person. He had a room in the same dormitory with me at Northwestern. (We were both independents in that fraternity-and-sorority-infested place, and we shared a common loathing for my first-year roommate.) After I moved to Vermont and Gary was in New York City, he drove up to visit us, bringing a Raggedy Ann doll as a present for our infant daughter. I haven't seen him for many decades, but the world is a poorer place without him. Rest in peace, Gary! I have posted your picture from eighth grade on my profile here.
Dan MacDuff
Thanks, Roger. In 1959 (or so), Ralph Bunche gave a talk in the AHS auditorium. Ralph Bunche was a very high-ranking diplomat at the U. N. In short, he was an important man. And he was black. As I remember it now, Gary and I were the only white faces in the auditorium, except for a coupe of AHS officials down close to the stage. We thought that was pretty shameful. I'm glad that things are getting better.
Roger Cooke
Dan, Good for you and Gary! I remember the occasion, but I wasn't at the actual talk. That was indeed shameful. Dr. Bunche was an Alton native. I remember now that it was Gary who made me aware of him. And it was not until the mid-1980s that I learned (from his autobiography) that the great Miles Davis was also an Alton native, although his family moved to East St. Louis when he was very young. We have made progress, but we are still far from the goal! Thanks to you and Gary for doing your bit to move us closer to it.
Alvin Johnson
Rodger, cool to hear you speak about your memory of the speach by Dr. Ralph Bunche at the high school. I was also in attendance as Dr. Bunche was my father's first cousin and he was in Alton visiting our family. It was such a great moment in my young life to see first hand how successful someone could actually become.
Hope all is well with you these days.
Roger Cooke
Hi Alvin, great to hear from you. From your profile, it looks like you made a lot out of your life and have a comfortable retirement and a close family for your old age. I can't wish better than that to anyone. Stay well, and enjoy many more years of it. Roger