Irene Vulgan Kogan

Irene Vulgan Kogan

Irene Kogan, long-time Miami resident and community volunteer passed away on February 24th at the age of 92. She is survived by her son Robert Kogan (Diana), daughter Karen Kogan-Rosenzweig, grandchildren Jeremy Kogan, Adam Kogan (Haley), Nolan Lyda (Shelby), Jacob Rosenzweig, Sammy Rosenzweig and great grandson Shepherd Lyda. Irene is also survived by her brother Joe Vulgan (Marsha) and many nieces and nephews. Both her husband, Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Gerald Kogan and her daughter Debbie Kogan Lyda pre-deceased her.

Irene was born in New York city to Joseph and Esther Vulgan, of Czechoslovakian and Hungarian decent and was called Irenka by her parents and her grandmother, also named Esther, who she loved dearly when she was growing up. At age 14, she and her family moved to Florida and she attended Edison High School as a majorette. She then went to the University of Miami and twirled on a majorette scholarship for the U of M marching band graduating with a Bachelor’s in Primary Education. While at the U of M, Irene was a member of Delta Zeta sorority and worked as an assistant editor in the communications office/school paper where she met her love of 65 years, Gerald Kogan. Together they raised 3 children and had 5 grandchildren. As a mom, she liked to say she gave her children roots and wings and this was for certain as she encouraged them to explore their own futures outside of the comforts of Miami.

Irene and Jerry loved U of M football and basketball and were both members of the U of M Iron Arrow (the highest honor attained at the university) and she was one of the first women to achieve this honor. Both Irene and Jerry were also in the Honorary Golden Ibis.

After college, Irene participated in a variety of alumni activities and charities. Irene was a 58-year member of Temple Judea in Coral Gables and was an accomplished artist taking after her mother’s profession. Many of Irene’s acrylic paintings are in family and friends’ homes and one was displayed at a gallery in Coconut Grove.

Professionally, Irene was an elementary school teacher back east and at Banyan elementary in Miami and then became a CAP advisor a College Assistance Program (CAP) counselor at South Miami High School. The program was a groundbreaking, federally funded program designed to incentivize students to attend college. She was president of the Patrons of the Museum of Science as well as the Head of the Orange Bowl Luncheon committee. Irene and Jerry were avid travelers and visited many countries throughout the world. She had a gift for collecting unique and beautiful art.

When her husband Jerry was appointed as a Justice on the Supreme Court of Florida, she became actively involved in Tallahassee Culture and was a member of the Symphony Society, the Governor’s Mansion Docent Society and was a founding member of the Florida Supreme Court Docent Program. During this time, Irene and Jerry were asked to join a group that went to Hungary and Latvia to help them form a democracy. Irene, fluent in Hungarian, was the interpreter for the group. While in Tallahassee, Irene was renowned for her entertaining prowess frequently entertaining local dignitaries, the court and new judges from Miami when they attended sessions in the city. While in Tallahassee, she also became a Bat Mitzvah at the local reform synagogue.

In 2012 as recognition for all of Irene’s lifelong community and charitable work, she received the prized “Woman of Impact” award by the Women’s History Coalition of Miami.

Irene says the day she met her husband Gerald was the best day of her life and that’s the day her life changed.

Funeral services will be Sunday, March 2 at one o’clock at Mt Nebo Memorial Gardens, 5505 NW 3rd Street, Miami. Shiva will follow at One Grove Isle Drive, Miami.

In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests memorial gifts be made to The Debbie Kogan Lyda Dr. Warner Huh Ovarian Cancer Research Fund at UAB. Gifts can be mailed to UAB Gift Records, AB 1230, 1720 2nd Avenue South Birmingham, AL 35294-0112 or online at https://go.uab.edu/lydahuhfund.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.