Eugene Hogan

6/16/1936 – 1/14/2010
Vigil: Sunday, January 31, 2010 at 7 PM at Westford Funeral Home.
Mass of Christian Burial: Monday, February 1, 2010 at 1 PM at Church of the Assumption.
Reception: Following Mass at Westford’s Broadway Hall.
Eugene Joseph Hogan was born June 13, 1936, the fourth of six children born to John Patrick Hogan and Julia Lucy (Schenk) Hogan.  He was preceded in death by his oldest sister Margaret Ann (Hogan) McGee in 1970. He is survived by his beloved wife of 45 years, Eleanor Patricia (Hale) Hogan, siblings John, Daniel (Mary Ellen), George (Diane), and Judy (Wade), children Kathryn Toof (John), Gene, Emmet, Brendan, John, and grandson, Joseph. He was devoted to his numerous cousins, nephews, and nieces, and two special young friends, Kevin and Brien Depner. Of all of his commitments, Dad always put family first.
Born in Butte, Montana, 6/13/36, on Miners’ Union Day, Gene Hogan spent a lifetime pursuing social justice and the rights of workers.  A proud member of Mine Workers of America Local Union Number 1, Gene worked in the Berkeley Pit mine and on the railroad during the summers.  Throughout his life, he remained close to his roots, making yearly pilgrimages to Montana to visit extended family and fly fish, a passion he shared with his four sons.
As a child, Gene showed an early interest in his aunt Maybelle Hogan’s political career. Aunt Maybelle, County Superintendent of Public Schools in Silver Bow County, Montana, was his mentor, and she encouraged him to develop his talent in debate.
A naturally gifted public speaker, he competed on the debate team in both high school and college, winning several awards. He graduated from Gonzaga University in 1958, after holding the office of ASB President. Under the patronage of Montana Senator Mike Mansfield, he worked in the Senate Office Building in Washington, D.C. while earning an M.A. in Political Science at Georgetown University.  It was during these years that he formed a lifelong friendship with Patrick Hynes, who later managed the Senate Cloakroom and provided Gene with knowledge of the day-to-day workings of the U.S. Senate.
He earned a Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Oregon, moving his young family to Bellingham in 1969.  He was a state campaign manager of Eugene McCarthy’s 1968 campaign in Oregon, the only state in which McCarthy won the primary against Robert Kennedy. Always active in the labor movement, he worked steadfastly to organize the Western faculty in the 1970s under the Faculty Professional Union AFT, efforts which were only realized in the last few years with a faculty union at WWU.
All of Gene’s talents culminated in his vocation as a teacher, and he inspired many during his 33-year career. The reserve booklists for his classes were legendary. In 1977, he won a National Endowment for the Humanities Fellowship at the University of California, Santa Barbara, to study U.S. Constitutional Law.  In 1979, he was honored to receive Western’s Distinguished Teaching Award. With his colleague and friend Dr. Donald Alper, he started the Taft Institute for Two Party Government in 1985, which later became the Ralph Munroe Institute for Civic Education. He finished his academic career as Chairman of the Political Science Department for 5 years.
Inspired by the 1988 Jesse Jackson campaign, he founded the Whatcom County Rainbow Coalition with others, including his lifelong friend, Dr. Maurice Foisy. In 2002, he was honored with the Washington State Democratic Party Lifetime Achievement Award. He loved to host large holiday gatherings for friends and family, often spending hours cooking special recipes. He leaves a legacy of love, friendship, humor and integrity that will never be forgotten by those who knew him.  He was our “Man for All Seasons;” may he rest in peace.
Remembrances may be made to Catholic Community Services or the Southern Poverty Law Center.