Joseph W. Vagan of Springs died at home on February 2 from complications of Parkinson’s disease. He was 86.
He was born in Bayonne, New Jersey, on September 15, 1927, the youngest of nine children of Ann [Petrusck] and Michael Vagan.
After graduating from Seton Hall University, he joined the stockbrokerage firm of Peter P. McDermoth and rose to become vice president. The advent of computer technology led to the consolidation of many small firms including his, and so he eventually left and joined the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission as an investigator, from which he retired after 20 years.
Mr. Vagan and his wife, Joan, who predeceased him, began coming to East Hampton to visit their friends, the Publins. After he retired, they built a home in Clearwater Beach.
He was a member of The Nature Conservancy, volunteered at Cedar Point Park, and worked at the Springs Fisherman’s Fair for a number of years. He was an avid birder and a member of the American Legion, having served in the U.S. Navy during World War II.
Mr. Vagan is survived by a brother, Michael Vagan of California; a brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Melvin and Elea Publin; a niece, Pamela Publin Cook, who was like a daughter to him, and her son, Grant Cook, who was like a grandson. He is also survived by many other nieces and nephews, and great-nieces and great-nephews.
A funeral Mass will be held at The Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church in East Hampton this summer, followed by an interment of ashes at Calverton National Cemetery, next to his wife.
Memorial donations may be made to a charity of the donor’s choice.
on Feb 14, 2014