Samuel Walter Bogley III

Obituary of Samuel Walter Bogley, III

On March 10, 2022 Samuel Walter Bogley, III - beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend - returned to his Lord and Savior, after passing peacefully surrounded by his loving wife of 59 years, Rita, their children and grandchildren. Sam was a dedicated family man, public servant and lawyer who served as the third Lieutenant Governor of the State of Maryland.

Sam was born November 16, 1941 in Washington, D.C. to parents Samuel Walter Bogley, Jr. and Anna Cornelia (Roberts) Bogley.  Young Sam, affectionately nicknamed “Trippy”, attended various county public schools, later graduating from the Landon School for Boys in Bethesda. He attended Duke University and the University of Maryland College Park.  Sam studied law at the Montpelier Academy School of Law (now University of Baltimore School of Law) and was admitted to the Maryland State Bar Association in 1968.  Sam married Rita Brady of College Park and they have 8 children, 20 grandchildren, 9 great-grandchildren and counting.

Sam began his long career in public service as a Zoning Enforcement Officer in Prince George's County for the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission. Between 1964 and 1968, he was the Chief Clerk of the Peoples' Court in Upper Marlboro. Following this appointment, Sam was the representative to the Maryland State Legislature for the Prince George's Chamber of Commerce.  At age twenty-eight, Sam was elected as Prince George's County's youngest Commissioner. With the adoption by the citizens of the County Charter, he was retained as one of the first members of the newly created Prince George’s County Council.

In June of 1978, after completion of his second term on the Council, Sam was selected to run for Lieutenant Governor of the State of Maryland.  He was successfully elected to office and served as the third Lieutenant Governor of the State of Maryland from 1979 to 1983. After leaving office as Lieutenant Governor, he practiced law in Silver Spring, Maryland. In September 1988, President Ronald Reagan nominated Sam to serve on the Merit Systems Protection Board.  Sam later returned to private law practice until the time of his retirement.

Sam with his wife Rita, was a passionate advocate for the right to life and through his last days, engaged in activities aimed towards fostering respect for all human life, particularly that of preborn children.  In 1992 Sam spearheaded efforts to defeat the Maryland Freedom of Choice Act, which codified Roe v. Wade in Maryland law. Many families have attested to Sam and Rita’s brave public defense of life as reason for the survival of their children or grandchildren.

Sam converted to Catholicism as an adult and together with his wife, was a member of Sacred Heart Parish in Bowie, where his seven children were confirmed into the Catholic faith.  Sam is survived by his loving wife Rita, their children (and spouces) Christopher, Robert (Moira Coe), Michelle (John Guthrie), Laura, Rita (Louis Rohme), John and Katie (Morgan King);  grandchildren (and their spouses) Jessica (Kevin Brown), Zachary, Jenna (Joshua Steger), Brendan, Tyler, Mairead, Andrew, Shannon, Kaitlyn (Matt Breidenger), Ronan, Jacob, Sammy, Nathaniel, Jack, Liliana, Fox, Owen and Grey; great-grandchildren Anna, Seraph, Leland, Faelan, Honaley, Evelyn, Elias and Frankie; brother John Bogley of Germantown, and dear nieces Jennifer and Amy and their families; his uncle James Bogley and many cherished Bogley cousins, as well as his beloved Brady in-laws and their families. He is predeceased by his son Vincent, his grandson Beau, and his nephew Todd.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Maryland Right to Life.