Richard A. Vogel Sr.

Richard Andrew Vogel Sr., a longtime resident of Brockton, passed away peacefully on December 25, 2021 at Signature Healthcare Brockton Hospital after a brief illness.

Richard was born in 1942 in Boston, to Frank Vogel of Philadelphia & Harriet (March) Studley of Dorchester.

He was the brother of Ella (Marie) Randall of Brockton, John Vogel of Delran, NJ and the late Barbara Riberio (Johnson) of Malden, MA.

He was the former husband of the late Jane (Studley) Vogel of Cohasset and father of Richard Vogel, Jr. of Brockton, Susan Fisher of West Bridgewater and Frank Vogel of Cambridge.
 

Richard "Dick" Vogel grew up in Milton, Avon, and Cambridge, graduating from Rindge Technical High School in 1961. He proudly volunteered for the U.S. Army and served from 1961-1964. His basic training was at “boot camp” Fort Dix, NJ and was then deployed to France as a combat engineer aiding in the Berlin Airlift & Cuban Missile Crisis before his honorable discharge. After his return from service, he worked at the Quincy Fore River Shipyard as a welder before serving as an apprentice for Ironworkers Union Local 7.

In the 1970's he worked at the Plymouth Nuclear Power Plant before becoming a Journeyman Ironworker and foreman for various contractors. His jobs included: Southeast Expressway Bridge Rehab project; South Shore Plaza Expansion & Garage; Deer Island Waste Treatment Facility expansion; MBTA JFK/UMASS Station expansion; UMass Boston Library, Mini Prudential (800 Boylston St.), Prudential Center Mall, and the Ritz Carlton Hotel renovation. He retired while working on the Central Artery Big Dig Tunnel project.

An active member of Parents Without Partners (PWP) in the 1970's, he first disc jockeyed for their dances and parties. Dick then worked as a travelling disc jockey from 1978-88 doing business as DD and then Personal Touch disc jockey services. He specialized in weddings, playing all requests and ending every function with a sing-a-long rendition of 'God Bless America'.

Dick was the leader of his own one man band. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RS182QucAQ See our Tribute Wall tab for direct access. 
 

He was an avid boater, scuba diver in the 1970's, roller coaster enthusiast, and bridge and whist player. Dick organized whist games at the Brockton Mary Cruise Kennedy Senior Center. He enjoyed telling jokes to passersby and watching Jeopardy, Robin Williams comedy & New England Patriots football on TV. He also enjoyed good steak or fried clams. "Without knowing it, you really did give me the world."

Services are private. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to Brockton Mary Cruise Kennedy Senior Center.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Richard A. Vogel Sr., please visit our floral store.