Harold Thomas Fogarty, 87, died Sunday, May 13, 2012 of heart failure at his home in Hershey, Pennsylvania. He was born in Oakdale, California on Oct. 11, 1924 to William and Eva Fogarty at their family home on West “I” street. He was the youngest of four children.
He graduated from Oakdale High School in 1942. His attendance at MJC was interrupted when he was called to serve his country with the Army in Europe during World War II. With the help of the GI bill, he graduated from the University of San Francisco with a BS in Industrial Relations.
In 1964, his career brought him back to Oakdale to recruit and staff the town’s new Hershey Chocolate plant. He renewed his involvement at St. Mary’s Catholic Church representing the parish on Bishop Guilfoyle’s Bishop’s Advisory Council and with his brother Bill in the fundraising effort to establish Central Catholic High School in Modesto. In 1972, he was promoted to Director of Personnel at Hershey’s main chocolate factory in Hershey, PA and moved his family across the country.
He was President of Harrisburg (PA) Area Personnel Association and served on a number of advisory committees including Harrisburg Area Community College. He was a Member of Rotary International and served on the Hershey Rotary Board of Directors.
He was active at St. Joan of Arc Church in Hershey. He helped settle refugees from Asia and Eastern Europe. He was a life member of the Elks, a member of Knights of Columbus, the Serra Club, St. Vincent DePaul Society, the Univ. of San Francisco Ambassador’s Club, and a member of the Hershey Country Club.
Together with his wife he travelled the world and visited all 50 states. He returned home to Oakdale regularly to visit with friends and family and spend time on the ranch homesteaded by his grandfather Jeremiah Fogarty in 1873. There he reveled in the memories of his youth working cattle with neighbors and gathering with a large extended family. (Through his mother, a Brennan, he was a descendant of another notable Irish immigrant pioneer, Daniel Nolan, purveyor of the 26 Mile House east of Stockton en route to the gold fields.)
He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Juliette (Ithurburn) Fogarty of Hershey and four sons: Jim (Beth) of Berwyn IL, Dan (Barbe) of Pittsburgh PA, Paul (Frances) of Oakdale CA, and Robert (Debbie) of State College PA. He also leaves behind nine grandchildren: Matthew, Hannah, Michael, William, Anna, John, Julie, Caroline, and Peter and many nephews, nieces, great-nephews, and great-nieces.
His sisters Maurine Cavanaugh and Dorothy Linder, and brother William Fogarty all preceded him in death.
A viewing will occur Thursday, May 24 at Oakdale Memorial Chapel from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. with recitation of the rosary at 6 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10 a.m. Friday, May 25 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Oakdale followed by interment at Oakdale Citizen’s Cemetery.
Memorial donations may be made to: Brothers and Sisters of Love c/o St. James Church, 2907 South Wabash, Chicago, IL 60616 www.brothersandsistersoflove.com or the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul c/o St. Mary’s Catholic Church.
