Obituary
John Riley Hogan, 76, of Hernando, FL, passed away on Saturday, June 25, 2022, after a long valiant battle with cancer. He was a four-time cancer survivor, who fought with all he had, each cancer diagnosis, to stay here for the people he loved.
John, affectionately called “Red” and “Hogan”, was born an only child to John Hogan and Mary Rielly, on February 10, 1946, in Newark, NJ. As a young man he enjoyed summers at the Jersey Shore, eating his favorite sweet snack, saltwater taffy. His mother described him as; smart, witty, and an adventurous daredevil. John graduated in 1964 from Midland Park High School in Midland Park, NJ. He went on to study at Rutgers University.
In 1989, John met his loving and devoted wife, Sharon Skeele-Hogan and they were wed soon after on February 14, 1990, in New Mexico. The couple enjoyed traveling the country, fine dining, and spending time together as a family. They were dedicated to their careers and one another for the past 32 years. Each being there for the other and ready to tackle the next big adventure together. Those adventures took them from New Mexico to Washington, DC, North Carolina and finally Florida, where they have resided for the last 17 years.
In 1999, John and his wife, adopted Jessica and began another rewarding chapter of his life, fatherhood. He was a present and caring Dad, never missing a school chaperoned field trip or a chance to play a basketball game after dinner. The kind of father that would let you paint his nails, put hair clips in his hair, teach you to mow the lawn, paint a house, build a rock wall, ride a bike and catch a softball.
Hogan was employed 32 years to Lucent Technologies, and retired as a Senior Manager in 2001. During his time with Lucent he traveled all over Europe, frequently stopping in Amsterdam which easily became his favorite place to visit. His work trips also led him to Albuquerque, NM where he worked for Sandia National Laboratories (U.S. Department of Energy) under a Top Secret Security clearance.
John’s hobbies included being a car enthusiast with the opportunity to race modified formula one cars at Watkins Glen, and being an avid golfer all over the country’s renowned golf courses. After retirement, John volunteered for the US Fish and Wildlife Service, doing Manatee Watch every week, until his illness would no longer allow. He had a passion for protecting the manatee, ensuring people respected their space, while still enjoying the beauty of Three Sisters Springs. John joined a local pool league and loved to teach his grandson, Landon, trick shots whenever he could. He took pride in landscaping his yard and gardens to perfection. On the weekends, you could find him hand-detailing his car, while watching golf or football (diehard Vikings fan). He had a special place in his heart for rescued animals, and almost always had his dog Daisy by his side.
John Riley Hogan is predeceased by his mother and father, Mary Rielly and
John Hogan. He is survived by his wife, Sharon Skeele-Hogan, his daughter, Jessica Jennings-Hogan and three grandchildren, Landon, Dierks and Aubrielle whom he adored.
A celebration of life will be held privately with his family. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the US Fish and Wildlife Service, an organization with a mission that John felt passionate about.
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