John A. Bogardus III, aged 70, passed away suddenly and unexpectedly on May 8, 2023. Born on June 12, 1952, in New York City, John was the son of Mary Lela and John A. Bogardus Jr. He was raised in Old Greenwich and Riverside CT with his siblings, Steve, Jim and Janet. He had a diverse educational background, attending The Pomfret School for high school (as had his father). He then pursued his Bachelor's degree in Psychology, studying at Franklin College in Switzerland, Beloit College, University of Wisconsin (Madison), and Antioch West in San Francisco. John furthered his education by obtaining a Masters of Social Work from Smith College in 1980.

During his time at graduate school, John met Kathy O'Brien, whom he married in 1980. The couple moved to San Francisco, where they began their professional careers in mental health services. Although their marriage did not last, they raised their daughter, Alexis Carey Bogardus, together. John and Alexis shared a close relationship, except for their differing baseball loyalties, with Alexis supporting the Dodgers and John being a fan of the SF Giants. Notwithstanding this friendly rivalry, John took Alexis to the infamous Giants/A's World Series game when the 7.1 earthquake struck. John had the joy of being a grandfather to Alexis and Jorge Cruz's two daughters, Saoirse and Kaia.

John was a sports enthusiast and shifted his childhood sports allegiances from the Yankees, NY Giants, Knicks, and Rangers to the SF Giants, 49ers, Warriors, and Sharks after moving to the Bay Area. He excelled in various sports, playing varsity soccer as a goalie during his time at Pomfret School. He also enjoyed playing tennis, skiing, and golf. John cherished family golf outings to renowned courses such as Torrey Pines, Bandon Dunes, and Pine Valley. He was particularly proud of achieving a hole-in-one while playing with his regular Marin County golf group.

Professionally, John began his career as a psychotherapist in private practice in 1985. He was passionate about helping people overcome adversities and reach their potential in work and relationships. His counseling expertise extended to addiction, anxiety, depression, grief, relationship issues, and self-esteem matters. Clients appreciated his thoughtfulness, trustworthiness, and safe presence. In 2004, John expanded his practice by opening an office in Sonoma after relocating there with his life partner of 27-years, Marsha Parker. Unfortunately, Marsha passed away in 2014 due to illness.

John possessed an adventurous spirit throughout his life. In 1972, after a family vacation to Greece and Israel, John embarked on further travels to the Middle East, visiting Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Iran, and Afghanistan. He possessed a lifelong passion for music and frequently attended live shows with his loved ones. The bands included: Neil Young, Jeff Beck, Talking Heads, Paul Simon, Herbie Hancock, Pearl Jam and The White Stripes just to name a few. For decades he regularly tuned into a cool local radio show, Tangents, on Saturday nights described as 'A genre-defying cross-cultural synergistic musical mix'.

In 2015, he met his soulmate, Lourdes Vargas. They married in 2016 and their love brought immense joy to John's life. The couple settled in a new home in Novato, where Lourdes, also a psychotherapist with expertise in couples and adult issues, tended to their beautiful garden. They shared a home office and one in San Rafael.  John introduced Lourdes to his passion for wine, and they enjoyed wine-tasting with their regular group, as well as exploring the farmers market and seeking out great wine deals. They also embarked on travel adventures together, visiting countries such as Spain, Portugal, Scotland, Romania, Bulgaria, Mexico, and England.

John's love and presence enriched the lives of those around him, and he is deeply missed. A celebration of life will be held on June 29th, 2024 in Napa (wine country) CA.

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