Captain John Francis 'Jack' Bogan Sr., 92, of Stuart, Florida, formerly of Point Pleasant Beach, NJ died Saturday, April 24, 2010. He was born and raised in Jersey City, NJ and moved to the Jersey Shore area in the 1930s and lived there until moving to Stuart in 1982. A well-respected boatman, he owned and operated several party fishing boats from Brielle and Point Pleasant Beach, NJ, including the "COLUMBIA", the "AMERICAN" and the "SHAMROCK" through the early 1980s. He also owned a boat basin near Manasquan inlet at Point Pleasant Beach.Jack got his start in the 1930's working as a mate on the "PARAMOUNT II" at Bogan's Broadway Basin in Brielle, New Jersey. His first turn at the helm was aboard the "COLUMBIA", a 45-footer built in 1940 by the Johnson Brothers Boat Works at Bay Head, NJ for the Bogan family. He purchased his first boat, the "AMERICAN", from the Bogan family, a newer forty-five foot vessel built at Johnson Brothers Boat Works in 1945. Captain Jack's next boat was his first "SHAMROCK". She was built in 1953 by the Van Sant Boat Yard at Atlantic City, NJ and was one of the earliest 65–footers built specifically for party boat fishing and was the first flush deck party boat ever built. The "SHAMROCK" specialized in Fluke fishing during the summer months, and Cod and wreck fishing at other times. In 1971, Captain Bob Pennington who was a former mate on the "SHAMROCK", bought the boat and it became his first "SEA DEVIL". In the late 1960s, Captain Jack purchased Inlet Basin at Point Pleasant Beach, New Jersey. He and his sons, Captain John F. Bogan Jr. and Captain Bob Bogan Sr. operated the "SHAMROCK" and the "GAMBLER" from this basin for many years. In 1971, Captain Jack purchased the seventy-five foot "CAPT. BILL" from Fort Lauderdale, Florida and it became his second "SHAMROCK". This steel vessel was built in 1966 by the Sutton Boat Works at Tarpon Springs, Florida. It later found its way to Sheepshead Bay, New York and is presently a dinner cruise boat sailing as the "AFTON PRINCESS" along the St. Croix River near Afton, Minnesota. After Jack retired, his son, John Bogan Jr. operated the second "SHAMROCK" and then a third Lydia-built "SHAMROCK" until he too, retired. Jack's grandson, Captain Bob Bogan Jr. continues in his dad's and granddad's footsteps with the third and current "GAMBLER" from Inlet Basin. Captain Jack was one of the last "old time" skippers. He was a firm believer that a Captain should always wear a captain's hat and be "the guy in charge". He steadfastly said, "Your customers should not have to guess who the Captain is." Often shunning Loran and other electronic navigation aids, he was an expert in positioning his boat on fishing spots by using land ranges and dead reckoning. He is survived by his sons, Captain John F. Bogan Jr. and his wife, Lynn of Stuart, FL and Captain Robert J. Bogan and his wife, Mary Ann of Brick, NJ; his daughters, Barbara Livieratos and her husband, Vlad Marinich of Ellicott City, MD., and Marie Bogan and her husband, Ernie Flowers of Seattle, WA.; his sister, Marian Darcy of El Paso, TX; his sister-in-law, Dorothy Grady of San Diego, CA; 10 grandchildren, Captain Robert Jr., Stephen, Andrew, Lee-Anne, Captain Michael, David, Clare, Alec, Cole and Ed; 11 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. A viewing was held on Thursday, April 29, 2010 at Van Hise and Callagan Funeral Home in Point Pleasant Beach, NJ. A Funeral Mass was offered on April 30, 2010 at St. Peter's Church, Point Pleasant Beach, NJ and followed by interment at St. Catherine's Cemetery at Sea Girt, NJ. Donations can be made in his honor to Martin County Hospice, 1201 SE Indian St., Stuart, FL 34997. Captain Jack and his son John sent us many of the vintage boat and fishing photos seen on the Mike's Maritime Memorabilia pages. We are grateful for their generosity and for telling us many fine fishing stories that brought broad smiles to our faces. Captain Jack is in our prayers and we wish his family and friends peace. Farewell Captain Jack and may God be with ye. Sunset and evening star,And one clear call for me! And may there be no moaning of the bar,When I put out to sea, But such a tide as moving seems asleep, Too full for sound and foam, When that which drew from out the boundless deepTurns again home. Twilight and evening bell, And after that the dark!
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