On August 24, 2023, we joined those in and around Toluca Lake in mourning the passing of lifelong resident Richard K. Bogy, 62, after a brief illness. He was a stalwart civic, community and business leader whom family and friends describe as having a big heart, infectious laugh and larger-than-life personality.
Bogy — whose family owned the Toluca Lake Company, the principal developer of Toluca Lake beginning in 1923 — was tirelessly committed to advocating for residents and business owners. He served the neighborhood in a variety of capacities, notably as president of the Toluca Lake Chamber of Commerce, vice president of the Toluca Lake Homeowners Association, and the first elected vice president and a founding member of the Greater Toluca Lake Neighborhood Council. He also served on numerous other boards, including for Campo de Cahuenga and the Universal Studios Board of Community Advisors.
“Richard Bogy was a pillar of the Toluca Lake community, embodying the spirit and dedication that make our neighborhood flourish. His unwavering commitment, evidenced through his impactful service on various boards, inspired countless others, including myself, to champion community values and strive for a better future,” TLHOA board member Scott Morris shared. “Richard’s legacy of passion, leadership and transformative influence created a lasting imprint that will continue to guide and inspire future community leaders.”
Bogy, a USC graduate, was also a historian who was deeply interested in preserving and educating others on Southern California history, especially Toluca Lake’s rich past. He authored a variety of articles for the Chamber that delved into the history of Toluca Lake founder General Charles Forman, the Toluca Lake swan and more.
“Richard was a very dear friend. He was an amazing person who did so much for the community,” past TLHOA President Kari Negri said. “When he passed away, he had just done a presentation for SKY Properties and the TLHOA, where he gave a brief history of Toluca Lake … Richard was my go-to person for everything in Toluca Lake, but the funny thing is that when people called me to say how sorry they were to hear of his passing, they also told me that he was their go-to person for everything Toluca Lake.”
For more on Bogy’s life and accomplishments, read the Chamber’s remembrance here and his obituary here.