Ralph Bogan Jr.

1922 - 2013

Ralph A.L. Bogan, Jr.,90, passed away peacefully at his Lincoln Park home, Sunday June 9, 2013. Ralph was a tremendous athlete, and a leader in the investment business in Chicago. Ralph Bogan was born October 31, 1922, in Hibbing, MN, and moved to Chicago with his family in the early 1930's, in conjunction with the 1933 world's fair and his father's position with Greyhound Bus Co. Ralph attended Evanston Township High School, Choate Rosemary Hall prep school and graduated from Lake Forest Academy in 1940. He was awarded the Tucker Cup at LFA for "Most Representative Student." Ralph graduated from Dartmouth College, class of 1944, but the college graduated his class in 1943, as World War II was raging. He served as a Navy Midshipman and went into active duty September 1, 1943, until the end of the war. He served on the Destroyer, USS Stephen Decatur. After World War II, Ralph returned to Chicago, to learn the business of Greyhound from the wheels up and drove a bus to Fairbanks, AK, following the bulldozers up the Alcan highway in 1947. Soon, Ralph returned to Chicago and broke into the investment business and took a position managing the Chicago office of Dominick and Dominick. He later joined W.E. Hutton. Ralph Bogan was in on the ground floor of building the private equity business in Chicago and chaired the Atlanta LaSalle Investments. He was a partner in the group that purchased the Milwaukee Braves in 1962, which was later sold and became the Atlanta Braves. Ralph and his partners, in 1979, purchased the National Security Bank, at Chicago, Ogden and Milwaukee Avenues. Ralph served as Chairman and CEO, built the bank into a community force and revitalized the area. The bank sponsored 10K running events, where he proudly wore the #1 jersey. Ralph was an avid skier, competitive runner and champion golfer. Ralph loved skiing and in the 1970's, started deep powder helicopter skiing in British Columbia. He developed a love for it and he and his wife, Sarah Ellsworth Bogan, went every year to the Canadian Rockies. The skiers were dropped off by helicopter at the top of the mountain, skied down and did it again all day. He heli-skied 6.5 million vertical feet, until age 82. Ralph had a love for the game of golf and won two club championships in the 1950's. He participated in charity golf events and helped to found the Children's Memorial Hospital pro am tournament. He played for 50 years. Mr. Bogan is survived by his wife of 27 1/2 years, Sarah Ellsworth Bogan. He is also survived by five daughters: Mary Flair Bogan, Pamela Boemi, Sandra Bogan, Karen Nelson, Diane Palermo and thirteen grandchildren. He is survived by his siblings: Sarah Jenkins, Barbara VanOrnum, Thomas Bogan and Michael Bogan. Ralph Bogan generously gave to local organizations and participated in their events: Children's Memorial Hospital Pro AM Golf Tournament, Evans Golf Scholars, Illinois Masonic Hospital, 100 Club of Cook County, Lincoln Park Conservancy and Chicago Botanic Garden. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Ralph's Alma Mater, Lake Forest Academy or the organization of your choice. A "Celebration of Ralph's Life," will take place, Thursday, June 20,2013, at 3:00 PM at Church of Our Savior, 530 W. Fullerton Parkway, Chicago, 60614. Family burial will be in Dubuque, Iowa, on a bluff overlooking the Mississippi River.