Loretta Van Vugt

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Loretta Van Vugt, who left us on November 5, 2024 after a long and hard-fought battle with Parkinson's at age 88. She was the daughter of the late Francis (Fannie) Gunzburg of Bronx, NY and Kilian Langhans of Germany and sister to the late Robert Langhans. She was predeceased by her beloved husband of 33 years, Gerard D. Van Vugt Jr., who died in 1996.
Loretta was the loving Mother of Phyllis Torres and husband Tim of Hingham, Massachusetts and Andrew Van Vugt and wife Tricia of Wilmot, New Hampshire.
Loretta was lovingly known as "Nanny" to her five grandchildren: Aidan Torres, Dylan Torres, Noah Van Vugt, Eli Van Vugt, and Clara Van Vugt.
Loretta was born on January 12, 1936 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and grew up in New York, graduating from the Bronx High School of Science in 1952. She met the late Gerard D. Van Vugt Jr. at City College of NY and they married on August 5, 1962. Loretta worked as a medical secretary in New York and was also notably a contestant on Jeopardy. In 1971 Loretta & Gerry relocated to Arlington, MA when Gerry was asked to start up the Boston office of the architectural firm, ISD Incorporated. In Arlington, Loretta worked as an Office Manager for the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard University and also for a local Winchester landlord, Werner Carlson. Subsequently she worked for over 25 years as an Administrative Assistant for Dr. Hershel Jick with the Boston Collaborative Drug Surveillance Program at Boston University in Lexington. To keep herself occupied after the devastating loss of her husband, Loretta went back to college and in 2000 earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Boston University in Paralegal Studies.
Loretta was a caring wife, mother, and friend with a generous heart. She was courageous and brave in her fight with Parkinson's and with other obstacles in her life. Her mantra was "This too shall pass". She was an avid reader of historical fiction and loved to complete the New York Times crossword puzzle with her extensive vocabulary and intellect. We fondly remember her mumbling words like "amphibious vehicle" in her sleep which we had to look up in the dictionary!
The family would like to thank Dr. Todd Herrington at MGH, Dr. John Stevenson at NVNA, the many Caregivers at her home and at the Royal Nursing Center in Braintree, as well as the nurses and doctors at South Shore Hospital who took care of her in her last days.
Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Loretta's memory may be directed to the Michael J. Fox Foundation.