We were very sad to learn of John's passing. Although we had not known him long, being new residents here at Williamsburg Landing, we appreciated his no-nonsense approach and his delightful poetry.  We are writing to the family now, because we have learned that a memorial service is to be held very soon at the school where he taught in Massachusetts, but we have no further information about it. Please know that we remember him fondly and we are thinking of you.
Chuck and Anne Emerson

Dear family
On behalf of his classmates, may I offer my sincere condolences to you and your family upon hearing of John's recent death. I know that they, as well as others who knew him in connection with his many activities and interests at Harvard will be sorry to receive the news. I will post a notice on the class website. 
With sympathy.

Warren M."Renny” Little, Secretary, Harvard Class of 1955.


Renny Little
360 Mt. Auburn St. Apt. 406,. Cambridge, MA 02138 5530


I met John Ogden through my parents, Anne and Alan Morledge, who lived at the Williamsburg Landing, and they became good friends with John and Dorothy.  The Ogdens and my parents enjoyed many meals together at Woodhaven, and John continued to join my parents often, after Dorothy died.  A few years after knowing him, I realized that a friend of mine at William and Mary, Latin American studies professor, John Riofrio, was a former student of John Ogden's years ago, when my younger friend was a teenager. When my mother was dying of cancer, John Ogden would often sit with my mom and read his poems to her. His mind was always razor sharp. A wonderful conversationalist. A consummate reader with an impressive library. If I ever get to live as long as John Ogden, I hope to be just as delightful a companion as he was.

I am saddened to learn of the passing of John Ogden.John and I began our teaching careers together at Worcester Academy in 1960, and he taught me a great deal about teaching and about friendship. I still treasure the volumes of essays and poetry that he sent me. My deepest sympathy to his family.

Steven,
My deepest condolences on the death of your father, John. While I did not have a chance to serve alongside him here at Berkeley, I have heard such tremendous testimony on his impact and influence in our community. Know that we at Berkeley are lifting you up during this difficult season, praying for strength, courage, hope, and healing.

Peace to you.
Chaplain Brandon Peete

I can only hope John knew what an impact he had on so many of us.  He certainly taught how to write, as well as think, and had such a clear command of his craft.  He also had a humility that made it possible for him to defer to and validate my judgement when he recognized his critique was in error.  This meant he taught not just writing, and thinking, but knew how to build confidence in an insecure adolescent sensibility. Thank you John. Your work, and memory,  lives on. 

I wrote John Ogden an email ten or fifteen years ago now, and told him how much he had meant to me. I consider my English instruction to be the most valuable of the gifts I received from Governor Dummer, and Mr. Ogden was the teacher most responsible for that. As others have mentioned, his essay formula was fundamental to my development as an effective writer, giving me a tangible edge over others both in college and later in the workplace.  I also remember his generosity on the JV lacrosse team, balancing winning with playing as many students as possible, and providing my richest athletic experience at the school. I know that John Ogden left a legacy that many of us aspire to; he genuinely connected with people, and changed many of them for the better. Thank you, John.

Mr. Ogden, in his way, demanded and rewarded excellence. I remember he kicked out our whole English class because we were silent and not contributing. We left dismayed and ashamed, as we should have. I too remember his essay formula: etaoin shrdlu, but, sadly I didn't do well with it until my mind woke up in the way that Ralph Waldo Emerson meant about being awake. That writing and thinking "awakening" did begin to occur  in my junior and senior years, when I began to grow in intellectual confidence. Like others, I remember playing JV lacrosse for JBO. I think we only won 3 and lost something like 8, but that was the foundation for our fine senior year lacrosse team--beating both Andover and Exeter, but losing, I think, 5-18 to Tabor--with Mr. Evans and Mr. Anderson. I remember Mr. Ogden, at half-time during a JV game, complimenting me for getting up from the ground--and I was good at this--after being hit hard by an opposing midfielder.  We were losing, so his compliment meant a lot to me, and, as you see now, I've remembered it always. This is the legacy of a good teacher and coach. A teacher myself, and still teaching, I can only hope to reach the standard of Mr. Odgen. I will always remember him fondly and with a smile, for his tough affection, for his dry sense of humor, and for how he taught and challenged us to get the best out of ourselves. Thank you, Mr. Odgen.

Mr. Ogden was truly an inspiration and a teacher for whom I had the utmost respect. Not only did he have a brilliant mind but his encouragement and interest in his students were incomparable. In addition to introducing me to Lillian Hellman, Jane Austen, Tom Wolfe and a plethora of other greats, he also nurtured my desire to write and taught me to not hold back when expressing my thoughts. JBO thank you many times over for all you gave to your students and peers. You definitely had “The Right Stuff.” 
 
My sincerest condolences and prayers for the Ogden family.  

Intrepid Hospice extends their deepest sympathy to the family of John B. Ogden, Jr.
Our hearts and prayers are with you and we thank you for allowing us to care for him during his illness.  
May God continue to bless you, grant you peace and comfort during this time.

I will always have fond memories of Mr. Ogden and his Shrdluvian style. His critical essay formula spoke to me logically, and significantly increased my ability to transfer my thoughts and logic onto paper. It helped me throughout college, and I did my best to transfer this structure to my sons in their academic journeys. From English teacher to assistant JV Football coach, Mr. Ogden left an indelible mark on my life and Berkeley experience, as he did on many others’. On a side note, I’m glad I never had to line up on the football field across from his grandmother, as he told us several times that she hit harder than we did! 
Thank you, John. 
The Punto’s send their best regards, and deepest condolences to the Ogden family.

Mr. Ogden is one of the teachers I always look back at and say this is why I teach. His passion for teaching English and reaching each and every student is something I try to replicate for each of my students. His passion was contagious and his knowledge was worldly. Thank you Mr. Ogden for being the mentor you were. 

May your family find peace and love in knowing how many lives you touched. 

Mr. Ogden was a fantastic teacher and friend. He was certainly one for whom I had the greatest respect. Without a doubt, he was one of the biggest (and of course, most positive) influences on me through my junior and senior years at Berkeley. Along the way, I'd like to think that I acquired one-tenth of his dry wit through knowing him-- and hopefully a tenth of his wisdom, as well.

Mr. Ogden was a legend at Berkeley. My family knows well how much I treasured the opportunity to be his student. His is a household name in our home, as is Etoian Shrdlu’s. Both of my high schoolers have copies of his quirkily named Critical Essay Formula. It is magic. Mr. Ogden will always hold a very precious place in my heart. He had an enormous impact on me and set the very highest standard for exemplary teaching. My deepest condolences to his family. I can’t even imagine how much you will miss him! Sending love and prayers. ❤️

John Ogden was a dear friend and mentor not only to me, but so many others as well. What a brilliant man he was, a true storyteller! Harvard sweaters and snowy owls will always trigger fond memories of him, and I will forever hold his poetry books close to my heart. Dorothy's quilts always gracing the book covers, seemed to be his greatest pride. My sincere condolences to his sons and his grandchildren, whom he bragged about so often. Rest in peace, my dear friend. 

John was a true gentleman and scholar.  He was a valued colleague, willing to offer assistance to those around him.  He will be missed.


Mr. Ogden was my 9th grade English teacher circa 1984 and it was an honor and pleasure to know him.  He was a man of high standards, and always kind and supportive, even to slackers like me.  John filled my papers with comments, suggestions and wisdom.  I later wished I would have taken more advantage.  He was a teacher that inspired and made the world a better place.  

OBITUARIO

John Boyd Ogden Jr.

4 noviembre, 1932 – 26 diciembre, 2020

Nelsen Williamsburg

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