University of Richmond Athletics
Spiders Mourn Loss Of Peg Hogan
10/11/2005 | Women's Swimming & Diving
Oct. 11, 2005
UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND, Va. -
Peg Hogan, 74, the longtime Hall-of-Fame Richmond synchronized swimming coach, passed away on Oct. 8 in Jacksonville, FL.
Hogan is one of the most decorated individuals to grace the sport. She was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 2002 and the University of Richmond Athletics Hall of Fame in 2004. Hogan earned 55 U.S. Synchronized Swimming Masters national championships and the gold at the 1985 Masters World Championships and 1987 Pan American Masters Championship.
Hogan started coaching at Richmond in 1976 and guided the Spiders to varsity status in 1981. She led her team to a second-place finish at Nationals in 1988, Richmond's highest finish in program history. During her 25-year tenure at Richmond, Hogan coached nine all-americans.
"Peg was truly the consummate professional whose interest in the welfare of others superseded her own needs," remembers Ruth Goehring, who was Associate Athletic Director at Richmond during much of Hogan's tenure, and is now Assistant Athletic Director for Events and Facilities. "She was blessed with an inner peace and patience that transcended to her student athletes, colleagues and friends. She was absolutely the sweetest person and it is a tragedy that her life ended so soon."
Hogan was born in Baltimore, Maryland and later graduated from the University of Maryland where she found her passion for synchronized swimming. Since 1955 she has won countless medals in U.S. and international synchronized swimming competitions both as a competitor and coach.
The only Masters athlete ever to coach three teams in the same season, Hogan led the Octopi of Richmond and Ramapo Aqua Masters Synchro team in addition to the Richmond varsity squad. Hogan also founded the National Institute of Creative Aquatics, which emphasizes swimming-to-a-theme and creativity rather than accuracy in skills and strength as in more competitive synchronized swimming. Her swimmers went on to win many aquatic art awards.
Dedicated to every facet of the sport, Hogan spent much of her time as an official. She served as the National Judges Committee Chairperson, Masters National Chairperson, Education Committee Member and Collegiate National Chairperson. She received the Lillian MacKellar Distinguished Service Award in 1998, which is presented annually to an individual who has given unselfishly to the support of synchronized swimming with particular attention to the welfare of the athletes.
She is survived by her sister, Doris Simmons of Jacksonville, FL; her nephews Michael Simmons of Tampa, FL, Robert Simmons of Jacksonville, FL and Matt Simmons of Richmond, VA. A memorial service will be held at 4 p.m. Friday, October 14, 2005 at St. Edward the Confessor Catholic Church, 2700 Dolfield Drive (on Huguenot Road) Richmond, VA 23235. A reception with friends and family will follow in the church Commons.
Memorial contributions may be made to the US Synchro Foundation, 201 S. Capitol Ave, Suite 901, Indianapolis, IN 46225 or UR Synchro, Office of Advancement, University of Richmond, VA 23173.
