Bradley J. Vogt

1965 - 2023

Bradley J. Vogt
March 4, 1965 - September 20, 2023
On the morning of September 20th, Brad Vogt was unexpectedly taken from us after complications of a rare, previously undiagnosed blood disorder. Brad was a healthy and active person, which made his sudden passing at age 58 a shock to all who knew him.
Brad was born in Orlando, Florida. He grew up in Bethesda, Maryland and attended Walt Whitman High School. In 1987, he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Politics and Economics from Wesleyan University.
Fresh out of college, Brad joined Capital Group, a global asset management company headquartered in Los Angeles. After participating in a two-year rotational program, he became an investment analyst covering the U.S. telecommunications industry, environmental services and cable/satellite TV companies. He went on to become a research director then head of Capital's equity research. In 2003, he became an equity portfolio manager for the firm's flagship American Funds. As a senior leader at Capital, Brad served on its board and management committee from 2014 to 2019, before assuming leadership of Capital Solutions Group, an investment unit created in 2019 to manage multi-fund portfolios such as target-date funds. Past and present colleagues viewed Brad as an embodiment of the firm's culture and values. In addition to his roles at Capital, Brad also served as a member of the Investment Company Institute's Board of Governors from 2015 to 2022 and a member of its Executive Committee from 2016 to 2022.
Capital was also where Brad met his wife, Kate-a fellow trainee-in 1988. A budding romance between them would ultimately become a deeply devoted, tightly bonded thirty-one-year marriage that was graced by their three daughters, Emily, Elizabeth, and Lucy.
Brad's generosity and concern for others reached far beyond his immediate family. Philanthropy played a significant role in his life. He was an advocate and supporter of many local and national organizations in the areas of education, women and children, the environment, and social justice. He sat on several boards and served as Chair of the Board of Trustees of Georgetown Day School. Brad brought an inquisitive, creative, and analytical approach to uplifting these organizations with the hope of making the world a better place.
Brad wore none of this on his sleeve. He was modest, kind, graceful, and generous in spirit. Brad was authentic, passionate, and a true gentleman. Brad made others feel good about themselves, whether it was the barista at his favorite coffee shop or a business colleague. He was among those rare few who are able to effectively balance a demanding career with fulsome participation in everyday life. He maintained a singular presence as a husband and father to his three daughters. He remained staunchly committed to his golf game and loved nothing more than spending time with friends on the course. He was a tireless Washington Commanders fan, always prepared to recite the team's most recent statistics and with a hopeful outlook for their future. Brad was an avid traveler, taking some of his all-time favorite trips this past year to Portugal and New Zealand. He was passionate about reading spy novels, grilling fish, taking photos, coaching his daughters' sports teams, and decorating homemade cakes for every family birthday.
Brad's most favorite activity was spending each summer with family and friends in Maine. It was there that he attended Pine Island Camp as a child, discovered his love of the outdoors at Outward Bound, and, eventually, established a family home on his favorite beach in Owls Head. Brad was at his happiest during these summer Maine days, whether enjoying a blueberry scone on the deck, swimming in the ocean, or steaming lobsters on the beach.
Brad is survived and profoundly missed by his loving wife Kate; his adoring three daughters Emily, Elizabeth, and Lucy; his mother and step-father, Susan and Jack Moore; his father and step-mother, Peter Vogt and Pam Zilly; his sister Judy Vogt James; and his brother and his brother's partner, Andrew Vogt and Sarah Smith. In addition, a deep sorrow is felt in the hearts of Brad's extended family, countless friends and business colleagues, and just about every life that he touched in his all-too-brief fifty-eight years.
In lieu of flowers, a donation can be made in his memory to one of the following organizations: The Island Institute (www.islandinstitute.org) which sustains Maine's island and coastal communities; or House of Ruth (https://houseofruth.org) which provides safe and stable housing, trauma-informed care, and free counseling to women, children, and families in the DC area.
A memorial service to celebrate Brad's life will be held later this Fall.