Connee M. Brogan
October 5, 1925- March 14, 2017
Consuelo ("Connee") Bergere Mendenhall Brogan died peacefully on March 14, 2017 at the age of 91. Connee's husband of 68 years, Donald Brogan,died seven months earlier in July 2016. Connee is survived by her two children, Kevin Brogan and Cathryn DeYoung and her five grandchildren. Kevin is married to Nena Brogan and they raised their children, Chase, JT, Larkin and Abbey Brogan in San Marino. Connee was predeceased by their daughter Larkin. Connee's daughter, Cathryn, is married to Douglas Ayres DeYoung and they have two children, Scott and Katie. They raised their children in Laguna Niguel and currently reside in Monarch Beach.
Connee was born in Santa Fe New Mexico, and is a descendent of one of the original families from Spain that settled in New Mexico in the late 1600s, the Eloisa Luna Bergere Family. Connee graduated from high school in Santa Fe and subsequently graduated from USC. While a student at USC she met Don, the love of her life. They were married shortly after they both graduated from USC. She and Don were loyal Trojans and attended USC football games for many years.
Connee and Don raised their two children in San Marino. During this time, Connee was an active volunteer in the San Marino PTA, the Red Cross, the Assistance League as well as many other philanthropic organizations. After Don retired from Sterling Drug as the Director of Sales, they moved to Dana Point where they enjoyed their retirement years. They became members of the Dana Harbor Yacht Club and El Niguel Country Club. Connee and her daughter were active in the Orange County Luminares, a mother-daughter philanthropic organization.
Connee dearly loved her children and grand children. She was a fabulous mother and grand mother. She would readily babysit, when the grandchildren were younger, and enjoyed going to their various activities as they grew older.
Connee loved to ski and when their children were young, Connee and Don took the family on many ski trips.Skiing was an important part of any family trip, and Connee made sure everyone learned to ski well.
Connee was a consummate bridge player. She achieved the rank of Gold Life Master, accumulating more than 2,500 master points and regularly played in tournaments throughout the Country against many top level players. She also played bridge socially with her old friends from San Marino. She taught her daughter to play bridge and they enjoyed playing together the past few years. She was loved and admired by her friends at bridge where she regularly played for more than 30 years, the Dana Harbor Bridge Center.
Connee and Don also loved to travel and visited many countries over the years. They enjoyed meeting new friends and traveling with old friends. She particularly enjoyed being with her relatives from Santa Fe and visited there often. Connee was fun loving and a dear friend to many. She will be sorely missed.
Connee will be buried at Santa Fe National Cemetary with her husband Don. A family Catholic Service for Connee will be held in Santa Fe at the Cathedral of St. Francis, where Connee and Don were married many years ago. The family also will hold a small service locally at McCormick Mortuary in Laguna Hills. In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to the Discovery Eye Institute (a part of the UCI Gavin Herbert Eye Institute) directed for research on Macular degeneration by Dr. Christina Kenney.