Albert "Al" Flogge's Obituary
Mr. Albert J. Flogge, age 80, passed away on Tuesday, May 19, 2015 in his adopted hometown of North Muskegon, Michigan, leaving behind a rich legacy of devotion to his family, faith and churches, community, work and the arts. Al was born in Kent, Ohio, on Sept. 11, 1934, the youngest of nine Italian children of Joseph and Mary A. (Polite) Flogge. He was a graduate of Roosevelt High School in Kent, Ohio, in 1952, and Kent State University with a Business Administration degree in 1956. Al served two years in the U.S. Army at Fort Hood, Texas, where he became friends with a young soldier named Elvis Presley – one of an incredible list of celebrities that Al was fortunate enough to know and call friends. He managed four Herpolsheimers stores including Muskegon, Grand Rapids, Wyoming, Battle Creek, and L.H. Fields Department Stores in Jackson MI, retiring 35 years later in 1989 as the President and CEO of seven Allied Stores, now known as Macy’s. During those years, he spent his free time giving back to the community through his leadership at numerous organizations–notably as a board member of Mercy Hospital, the Miss Michigan Pageant, Catholic Social Services, Aquinas College, Muskegon Cherry County Playhouse, sponsor of Muskegon County Mothers of the Year, President and Campaign Chairman of United Way, National Catholic Stewardship Council, Chicago, and Lay Chairman for CSA/DDF for Bishop Joseph Breintenbeck of Grand Rapids, MI. As a cancer survivor, Al actively encouraged others to practice preventative cancer screening tests. Al received many awards for his community services including: J.C.’s Distinguished Service Award for Young Man of the Year, Outstanding Citizen Award from Muskegon County United Way, Awarded the Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels Distinguished Alumnus Award and Parade, Grand Marshall from Kent State University, Kent, OH, Kent City Schools, Hall of Fame Award 2002 for Career/Life Accomplishments, Muskegon, Michigan Arts and Humanities Award in 2005 and the Paul Harris Fellowship Award from Muskegon Rotary Club in 2015. As a philanthropist, Al supported and donated his time for many local and national charities. The love of Al’s life was the performing arts and that passion is evident in his valuable and extensive collection of thousands of celebrity autographs, photographs, books, posters and other memorabilia assembled over a lifetime which he donated to Kent State University, as the “A.J. Flogge Performing Arts Collection”. His performing arts collection is on permanent display at the Kent State University Library, Special Collection Department in Kent Ohio and can be viewed at www.library.kent.edu/specialcollections. Al performed countless theatre productions across the country and even had cameo appearances on national television shows, “Frazier”, “Friends” and “ER” along with appearing in a Paramount movie. He hosted a one hour live Jazz radio show called the Artist of the Week at WQWQ in Muskegon, MI. His collection on Father Thomas Merton (monk and priest), letters, signed books, manuscripts, photos, journals and essays, donated to Abbey of Gethsemani, is currently on permanent loan to the International Thomas Merton Library at Bellarmine University in Louisville, Kentucky. Al donated his literature collection of many rare books such as Shakespeare Volumes from the 1800’s, Margaret Mitchell, Ernest Hemingway, and numerous famous authors, U.S. Presidents signed first edition books and signed books, to Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, MI. He donated a bronze statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary, an original art piece from Italy, as “The Mary Garden” at St. Mary’s Church in downtown Muskegon, in memory of the Blessed Virgin, his mother Mary Flogge and all mothers. Al established a Performing Arts fund with the Community Foundation for Muskegon County and Kent State University for grants assisting artists, producing concerts, CD’s and bringing guest performers. He was a Renaissance man whose faith allowed him to rise above challenges and see the beauty in life and in others – particularly through the arts, as stated in a fascinating quote from his beloved Father Thomas Merton: “Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time.” In his later years, Al spent much of his time organizing the three archives donated to three universities – ensuring that his memories and enthusiasm will live on forever and be seen by the public at no cost. SURVIVORS: Al is lovingly survived by one brother, Charles (Dorothy) Flogge of Stow, Ohio; 5 nieces, 6 nephews and many loving great nieces and nephews. Al was preceded in death by his parents Joseph and Mary (Polite) Flogge, 2 brothers; Andrew and Rocco, five sisters; Minnie Ottaviano, Clara J. Coz, Josephine M. Feledik, Jean L. Clark and Margaret Chiarucci. VISITATION will take place on Friday, May 22, 2015 from 6-8 PM, with a Rosary being prayed at 6:00 PM at The Lee Chapel, Sytsema Funeral Homes, Inc., 6291 S. Harvey St., Norton Shores, MI (231) 798-1100. A MASS OF THE RESURRECTION will be celebrated at St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, 239 W. Clay in downtown Muskegon, on Saturday, May 23, 2015 at 11:00 AM with Fr. Julian Reginato and Fr. Tony Pelak presiding. A graveside service will be held 12 Noon Tuesday, May 26, 2015 at Standing Rock Cemetery, 1361 N. Mantua St., Kent, OH 44240. Memorial contributions may be made to “The Mary Garden” of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, 239 W. Clay, Muskegon, MI 49440 or St. Patrick Church, 313 N. Depeyster St., Kent, OH 44240. Please sign the online guestbook at www.sytsemafh.com
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