Frank Bedogne 1924-2006

Frank Bedogne, retired professor of fine arts and art education at Southern Oregon University died on January 23, 2006. Frank was born on December 1, 1924 in the town of Sunnyside, Pennsylvania: a coal, steel, and farming community in the Monongahela River Valley. His father, Frank Bedogne Senior, and his mother, Marguerita Moncini, immigrated from the town of Cemmo in the Northern Italian region of Lombardy. Through his parents Frank stayed in touch with relatives in Cemmo and made several trips to Italy.

Inspired by his heritage, Frank took up the accordion at a young age and nurtured what would become his career and two great loves: the arts and teaching. After his graduation from high school in 1942, he worked in a Donora steel mill until he was old enough to enlist in the United States Army. During World War II, he was stationed in New Guinea and the Philippines and participated in amphibious landings on a number of Pacific beachheads, where he received five bronze stars. His service earned him the rank of sergeant.

Discharged from the army in 1946, he returned to work in the steel mill, then attended college under the GI bill and earned a bachelor of arts from Edinboro State College, a masters in educational administration from the University of Colorado, a masters in fine arts from Colorado State University, and a doctorate from Pennsylvania State University. His time as a student began a teaching career that spanned more than 40 years and included instruction in public schools in Colorado, California, and Pennsylvania and in universities in Illinois, Oregon and Michigan.

In 1964 Frank settled down in the Rogue Valley, which brought his career to what was then Southern Oregon College. There, he instructed a generation of wonderful students, many of whom kept in touch with him after his retirement in 1987. His happiest years were those married to his wife Rose Marie and, after the couple's arrival in the Rogue Valley, the building of a home and the raising of a family south of Ashland's Emigrant Lake.

A devoted father and grandfather, Frank was as committed to bringing the arts and creativity into the lives of his children and grandchildren as he was to his students. In July of 2005, Frank, Rose Marie, and their family celebrated the couple's 50th wedding anniversary at Ashland's Callahan's Lodge. Frank Bedogne is survived by his wife, Rose Marie of Medford, son Vincent of Ashland, daughter Suzanne Pindell and her husband Judd Pindell of Ashland, their children Zane, Montana, and Carson, son Andrew of Los Angeles and his wife Mary, their children Mina and Marie, and son Martin of Los Angeles. Services were private. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Providence Hospice.