Gerard Clayton Bogart

Gerard Clayton Bogart, 88, of Cranberry Lake, New York, died Friday, November 23, 2012 at his son and daughter-in-law's home in Bowie, Maryland. He was born to the late Frank and Freida Bogart on September 23, 1924 in Rochester, New York. He had two older brothers, Frank and Wesley, now deceased. Gerard graduated from Edison Technical High School in 1942. He joined the U.S. Army on October 28, 1942, and served as a high speed radio operator for the Office of Strategic Services (OSS). He spent much of his time on the Island of Ceylon (Presently Sri Llanka) relaying Morse code communications from forward observers on the islands of the South Pacific. At the conclusion of World War II, he travelled back to the United States on the Liberty ship The USS Patrick Henry, volunteering to bake bread as a way to pass time on the long journey. He was honorably discharged on November 29, 1945. After the war, he went to school at the Rochester Institute of Technology, receiving his Associates Degree. He eventually came to work at Rochester Products Division of General Motors in Rochester New York, first as an Electrician, and then as a Manufacturing Engineer. He retired in 1980 and shortly afterward moved to their summer home in the Adirondack Mountains in New York. He was married to Doris Raymond, having one daughter, Laurie Susanne, and was widowed in 1958. He then met widow Jeanne Haefner Patterson and her son James Earl, and married on April 30, 1959. They adopted each other's children, and had two additional sons David Gregory and Robert Gerard. Gerard was an active member of the Catholic Church. He loved to travel, both domestic and abroad, and enjoyed museums, National Parks, historical sites, and spent numerous winters in retirement travelling throughout the South and Southwest to avoid the harsh winter at their home in the Northeast. He was an avid outdoorsman, spending much of his time hiking, camping, canoeing, kayaking, sailing, windsurfing (a sport he took up in his mid 60's), cross-country skiing, hunting, fishing, and golfing (another activity he took up later in life). He enjoyed sports, both at an observer and participant, and was especially fond of ice skating. He is best remembered for the time he spent with his family, exposing them to so many things in life. Gerard is survived by his wife Jeanne, his daughter and son-in-law Laurie and David Pancoast of Atkinson, New Hampshire, his son and daughter-in-law James and Karen Bogart of Ayer, Massachusetts, his son and daughter-in-law David and Beth Bogart of Bowie, Maryland, and his son and daughter-in-law Robert and Kari Bogart of Lima, New York: his grandchildren and great grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations be made out to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 22718, Oklahoma City, OK 73128-1718.