TOPSFIELD: Philip A. Wogan, 91, died peacefully on Friday, January 15, 2010, at the Kaplan Family Hospice House in Danvers following a brief illness. He was the beloved husband of the late Betty (Guignet) Wogan with whom he shared 54 years of marriage.
Philip was born and raised in Manchester-by-the-Sea, MA, and was the son of the late Eugene F. “Skip” Wogan and Priscilla (Fritz) Wogan. After graduating from Story High School in 1936, he attended North Carolina State and Pennsylvania State College, majoring in Forestry.
In 1942, Philip joined the United States Army and, after basic training, was transferred to the Army War College in Washington D.C. and then to Lehigh University as part of the Army Specialized Training Program. Eventually Philip transferred into the 84th Infantry Division in Germany and Belgium. He earned the rank of Sergeant and was a Surgical Technician Third Grade. He was awarded the Bronze Star for service at the Battle of the Bulge.
After the war ended, he returned to marry his sweetheart Betty in January 1946. Philip continued his education at Boston University where he earned a B.S. in Biology and a Masters in Education. From 1947 to 1956, he taught high school Biology in Connecticut and in Reading, MA. After the death of his father in 1957, Philip took over the grounds and golf tournament activities at the Essex County Club in Manchester-by-the-sea until he left in 1985 to devote himself full-time to golf course architecture. During his career, Philip designed over 40 courses in the New England area and redesigned dozens more. He received many accolades from golf journals, trade magazines, newspapers, and Golf Digest. He was also a Fellow with the American Society of Golf Course Architects.
He is survived by his six children, Phyllis Mahalaris and her husband, John of Seabrook, NH, Michael Wogan and his companion, Kathy Hardwick of Beverly, Maureen Prusi of Waterbury, CT, Cheryl Wogan of Topsfield, Siobhan Stevens of Plaistow, NH and Nancy Devlin and her husband, Rory of Salisbury; ten grandchildren, John C. Mahalaris and his wife, Kelly, Daniel Mahalaris and his fiancée, Jessica, Alison Kaye and her companion, Edwin Bousseau, Nathan Prusi and his wife, Andrea, Karen Smyth and her husband, Christopher, Molly Giangarra and her husband, Michael, Peter Genest and his wife, Jill, Samantha Genest, Neal Devlin and Brent Devlin; twelve great-grandchildren, Jack, Kirsten, and Rachel Mahalaris, Chad Bousseau, Nathan Prusi, Cory, Emily and Rylan Smyth, Michael Jr. and Max Philip Giangarra and Dylan and Tyler Genest and many nieces and nephews. In addition to his wife, Philip was predeceased by his brothers Eugene F. Wogan Jr., Richard Wogan and Lewis Wogan and his sister Shirley Scully.
His funeral services will be held on Saturday in the Rosedale Cemetery, Manchester-by-the-Sea at 10 a.m. Visiting hours will be held on Friday in the Grondin Funeral Home, 376 Cabot Street, Beverly from 5 – 8 p.m. Relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in his memory to the Hospice of the North Shore, 75 Sylvan Street, Suite B-102, Danvers, MA 01923.