Email  Print

John Francis Goggin Jr

John Francis Goggin Jr. died at home, in Sonoma, on March 7, 2011, after a prolonged illness. He was 68 and was surrounded by his family.

John is survived by his loving wife of 28 years, Susan Holm Goggin and his daughter, the light of his life, Gillian Kathleen Goggin Blake and her husband, Kenneth Blake; and dear family friend Tully Stroud, the "son" John wished he'd had. He is also survived by his brother, William "Bill" Goggin; his sister-in-law, Mary Ann Goggin and his nieces and their husbands, Lisa and Tony Fiducia; their sons Alex and Zach, Sheryl and Jim Farrey and his nephew, John Francis Goggin, who in the Irish tradition, carries on his uncle's (and grandfather's) name. John is survived by many cousins, both in the USA and Ireland. John was very dear to Susan's family. He is survived by his mother-in-law; Helen Holm, Susan's aunts; Eloise Rosendahl, Mardelle Olson and Emma Holm and by Susan's siblings, their spouses and children.

John was born in Hartford, Conn., to John Francis Goggin Sr. and Kathleen (Lyne) Goggin, who immigrated to the United States from County Kerry, Ireland. He proudly served in the U.S. Air Force. Following his military service, John moved from Connecticut to California where he worked in the insurance industry as an insurance broker for 26 years. John became disabled following his first heart attack, necessitating his retirement in 1986. Whenever he felt well enough, John volunteered in Gillian's elementary school classrooms and when she was in middle and high school, he diligently took Gillian to her swim practices and meets and to her dressage training and events.

John was a loving, caring and helpful husband, an adoring, devoted father and an involved, animated uncle and cousin. He was a very patient, kind person with an original, quick sense of humor. John loved to eat sushi and ice cream and insisted people stay at the table to visit with him until he'd finished his soda or iced tea. He developed many enduring friendships in San Francisco and Sonoma. John will be greatly missed by all those who knew and loved him.

Condolences can be sent to sgoggin@sbcglobal.net or gilliangoggin@gmail.com.

Friends are invited to attend a memorial service and celebration of his life on Friday, March 25, 2011, at 2 p.m. at Duggan's Mission Chapel, 525 W. Napa St., Sonoma, CA 95476.

Private inurnment, Mount St. Benedicts Cemetery, 1 Cottage Grove Road, Bloomfield, CT 06002.

Arrangements under the direction of Duggan's Mission Chapel, Mission Cremation Service, 525 W. Napa St., Sonoma, CA.