Celebrating 40 years of educational service

That’s not the only change Vogel, a lifelong San Carlos resident, has seen during his years of service at the San Mateo school. He’s gone from using a hand crank adding machine to keeping an iPhone in one pocket and a digital camera in the other. Vogel, 61, has seen the San Francisco 49ers win a handful of Super Bowls. But the die-hard San Francisco Giants fan is still waiting for his beloved baseball team to win a World Series during his educational tenure.

On Aug. 23, Vogel was honored for his four decades of service during the Mass of the Holy Spirit. Vogel was joined by six members of his family — including his parents Rita and Warren Vogel — and numerous parents and former students joined the celebration. Vogel received an official proclamation, which was read into the Congressional Record of the 111th Congress by U.S. Rep. Jackie Speier, D-San Mateo. He also received a commendation from the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors and a plaque of thanks from Serra High School.

"Simply put, Serra has always felt like home,” he said. "The school’s spirit and sense of community is like nothing else that I have known. I started at Serra with the idea that I would try it for a year or two, and look what happened.”

His Padre pride is evident in his office, which features his Giants bobblehead collection but also autographed photographs of Serra players who went on to bigger, professional goals.

"And back here is a jersey signed by Tommy Brady. He went on to play for the [New England] Patriots,” he said, referring to the quarterback who graduated in ’95.

To Vogel, who has taught one math class nearly annually despite his changing job positions over the years, the boys who go through Serra remain those same guys he worked with years ago.

Principal Barry Thornton, who has been at Serra for 15 years, noted how unique it is for someone to start with an organization at such a young age and remain for 40 years.

"It’s pretty incredible,” he said. "He’s been here for so long, seen so many graduates, held so many roles. He’s made a tremendous imprint on the fabric of the broader community.”

Vogel grew up working his way through San Carlos schools — White Oaks, Brittan Acres, Tierra Linda and finally San Carlos High School. At Santa Clara University, Vogel found himself a marketing major with no real direction. His freshman math teacher asked Vogel to consider being a teaching assistant, a role Vogel took on the following two years. Through that, Vogel was introduced to tutoring a couple athletes on campus, then working his senior year with a graduate student teaching a course. Those experiences led Vogel to realize teaching math wouldn’t be such a bad gig.

Before graduation, at 21 years old, Vogel signed on to teach at Serra.

"I think I’ve enjoyed [my time at Serra] so much more over my 40 years because there’s been a variety,” he said.

Although Vogel has maintained teaching at least one class during that time, his other roles have changed. He’s served as public relations director, development director, math department chair, counselor, Mothers’ Club moderator, baseball coach, Trivia Club moderator, Photo Club moderator, yearbook moderator, Rally Committee moderator and, in his current role, as admissions director.

Another unique aspect of Vogel’s time has been working with his best friend Bruce Anthony. The two met in high school despite having lived only three blocks from one another growing up.

Both cite a passion for baseball for bringing them together.

Anthony remembered the Giants making the playoffs in ’62. Vogel would sneak a transistor radio in his pocket, hiding the wire in his sleeve and putting in an ear piece so he could hear the game.

"He was more of a risk taker,” Anthony said with a laugh. "I always knew I would get caught.”

Anthony has only been at Serra for 33 years, but the two work together daily. Vogel was Anthony’s best man and is godfather to Anthony’s oldest son.

Interesting that Anthony would describe his body as a risk taker. Vogel sees himself in a different light. Vogel, who loves to travel, has began taking certain risks over recent years, something he says isn’t part of a bucket list but is out of the ordinary for him.

Vogel has conquered parasailing in Mexico and, this summer, went down a zip line in Honduras.

For Vogel, it’s the Serra community that keeps him young enough for such challenges, and up to date on technology.

"Students make you stay young. They want to teach you things. ... They say try this and I’m open to trying it,” he said.

It’s not all teaching moments. Vogel laughed while recalling student pranks over the years like the release of mice and crickets by students at a Notre Dame High School dance, the year kids assembled a Volkswagen Bug in the library, or a senior prank that involved a beautiful woman and a gorilla suit. But it’s not all fun. It’s also about making a difference.

Vogel noted the best gift is hearing how you’ve helped an individual or family, and often it’s not the one from whom you thought you’d hear.

Heather Murtagh can be reached by e-mail: heather@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: (650) 344-5200 ext. 105.