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Ballard High School

Megan Vogel Obituary

Megan Vogel

On Monday August 20th 2012 after battling cancer for 2 years, the Ballard community lost a bright star, Megan Vogel. Megan was a born teacher and she brought her enthusiasm for science and her deep compassion for students into her classroom. When asked if she had children Megan would reply, "Yes, 150." In reality Megan had closer to 1000 children over the 11 years she taught in Seattle. Megan organized international trips to show students the wonders of the Amazon and Costa Rica, worked with the Seattle Aquarium and the citizen science program, and planned endless field trips. Megan won numerous awards for teaching including the Symetra hero in the classroom, PTSA outstanding educator, The Puget Sound Maritime educator of the year award, and in 2008 the prestigious KCTS Golden Apple for Excellence in Education award. Megan's former principal, Phil Brockman said of Megan that she had developed a legendary status among students and families at Ballard High School. In addition to Megan's love of education and school she also worked in the music industry and spent many weekends working shows at the Gorge where she enjoyed her love of rock and roll. She will be teaching all of us for years to come. She is survived by her mother Beatrice Vogel, and her brother, Walter Vogel.

A memorial ceremony will be held at the Ballard High School Auditorium at 1:00 p.m. on August 25th. Everyone whose life was touched by Megan is welcome to attend.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The Seattle Times from Aug. 23 to Aug. 25, 2012.

Memories and Condolences
for Megan Vogel

Sponsored by Gail Forsberg friend of Megan's Mom.

15 Entries

Gail Forsberg

September 15, 2023

Dearest Megan! Sending so much love to you and your Mom up there in Heaven together! God love and bless you both always! Someday I'll be there too!! Can't wait to see you both and hug you both and visit with you!!! all my love, your Mom's long time friend from when she worked at the City!

Gail Forsberg

August 17, 2019

Love to you Megan, and your Mom! And your brother too, still here on the planet! God love you all! I am 72 now! No telling when I will be joining you and your Mom, Bea Vogel there! Sending you my love and hugs until it is my turn to join you and be able to deliver them in person!
love, Gail

Gail Forsberg

December 31, 2018

Dear Megan, You are a shining light as you were also to your Mom! She just left the planet on December 8th, 2018 and is now with you in Heaven! Bea Vogel - we love her so! Someday it will be my turn to join you all and so very many of my loved ones who are there ahead of me! Hope you both get to meet my daughter Melissa who is there also. Your mom loved talking with you on the phone every day when you called her! You are the sweetest daughter! love to you both always, Gail Forsberg.

Matthew Anderson

September 20, 2012

Ms. Vogel may be gone, but she will continue to shine in all of our hearts forever!

Lisa Lentz

September 13, 2012

Megan was an inspiration to not only my daughter, but my entire family, with her love of science and the environment. She remains a bright light in the educational experience and was a remarkable woman. Her genuine warmth and kindness illuminated her life and everyone that she knew and encountered. Her extraordinary intelligence was apparent! My heart goes out to her family. She will be forever missed and loved.

Paula Goode

September 2, 2012

Megan had my daughter sent a nomination for the Golden Apple Award which Megan received in 2008. This shows the impact that this wonderful woman ad on the lives of not only my daughter Jasmin, but all of the other hundreds of other young people through out the years. She is an inspiration to her studens, coworkers, and parents.

I am so glad that my daughter was able to call you her friend!

Barbara Dr. Casey

September 1, 2012

Megan will forever live on in the hearts of those she touched with her words, actions and excellence in moving students and others one step closer to their higher selves. Thank you Megan for being the shining star and the universal light on life's pathway for each of us.
Dr. Casey

Dmitry Kaminsky

September 1, 2012

Megan Vogel was my favorite teacher at Ballard High School. She always kept herself busy with various projects besides teaching such as going to Amazon, Costa Rica, etc with groups of kids from school. She always pushed all students to the fullest potential. She also seemed always happy to teach and encouraged questions and various discussions. I definitely benefited her Biology class that I took as it prepared me for Microbiology in college (made it way way easier). She made the class always fun and it was awesome to TA for her as well since she always had a lot of stories of what she had done and a lot of pictures to show and tell. She'll be missed and always remembered.

Marta Branch

August 31, 2012

Megan and I were both teachers in the UW GK12 program, so although we taught for different districts, I had the privilege of working with her on Marine Science teaching topics and lessons. She was passionate and interested in teaching and learning and so very vested in the excellence of her every activity. It was a delight to meet her and have her as a colleague. I valued her opinion and her counsel. Her spirit was unbridled. Blessings to her, and to her family. She will be missed.

Brook Sorgen

August 28, 2012

I had the pleasure of meeting Megan Vogel while working at the BODIES Exhibition in 2006. She brought several numerous small groups of exceptional students to the exhibit. She was an extraordinary teacher. The respect she had for her students - and the respect they had for her - was so clear. She invited the education department at the museum to her open house at Ballard High School and we were thrilled to be there. Actually, I wished that she had been my teacher. We have lost an amazing woman, a talented teacher, a great human being.

Loveday Conquest, OACIS, Univ. of Washington

August 28, 2012

Megan Vogel was an active and vibrant "teaching partner" in the Ocean & Coastal Interdisciplinary Sciences (OACIS) GK-12 program. Over the course of the program, she partnered with three OACIS Teaching Fellows, all grad students at the UW, and she would have participated again this coming year had she not lost her battle with cancer. She also taught Oceanography 101 as part of "UW in the High Schools". Megan showed us how passionate and dedicated a good teacher could be. I observed her classes several times and was continually amazed at how she could reach students at all levels. The fact that she took students on international field trips showed her willingness to do whatever it took to make things happen. She also showed her students that big goals, like a trip to Costa Rica or a university education, are indeed achievable. UW OACIS values her contributions to our program and will miss her lively, enthusiastic spirit.

Anne Phalen

August 27, 2012

My son had you as a teacher last year. It was his favorite class. You were truly amazing and an inspiration to people with how you lived your life and passion with teaching as if the illness was just a bump in the road. You will be remembered and missed.

Barbara Chesnutt

August 25, 2012

A truly amazing and warm wonderful delightful woman

Meg Wakeman

August 25, 2012

Your smile and spirit live on in all your students and those of us who worked with you.

India Carlson

August 24, 2012

love you my sister-always teaching

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