Obituary: Jaqueline Thaxter Wogan

June 4, 1930 – August 12, 2024

Jaqueline Thaxter Wogan was born to William Hooper Thaxter, Jr. and Dorothy Churchill Thaxter on June 4, 1930 in Portland, Maine. Weighing 2 pounds, she was the survivor of a twin birth and her indomitable spirit was a driving force throughout her life.
Jackie grew up in Hingham, Massachusetts where she developed a passion for the arts and sports including sailing, tennis, horseback riding, flyfishing and even flying. After attending Boston University and a semester at the University of Grenoble, Jackie returned to the United States and at the age of 19, joined a group of friends driving from Massachusetts to Colorado for some spring skiing in Aspen. She stayed and got a job as a waitress at the Hotel Jerome and taught skiing at Aspen Highlands under director and friend Stein Eriksen. She met her soon to be husband, Robert Greene, at the Red Onion and they married on February 7, 1953. Together they had four daughters.
The couple moved to Chicago in 1967, where they met architect Harry Weese and his wife Kitty. Sharing an enthusiasm for design, Kitty and Jaqueline formed Design Unit in 1970, a firm that partnered with many of Harry Weese’s projects both nationally and internationally. Eventually Jackie would move back to Aspen to raise her four girls.
In 1971, Jackie was reconnected with widower and longtime friend, John B Wogan, Jr. They married on August 10, 1972, and divided their time between Denver and Aspen where Jackie dedicated much of her time to raising her blended family of 11 children and serving the community. She was a trustee on the board of the Music Associates of Aspen, a member of the Aspen Institute, a Rotarian, and a Blue Lady at Aspen Valley Hospital. Jaqueline delighted in entertaining and often hosted parties in their Aspen home attended by musicians, writers and artists.
In the years that followed, Jackie combined her design talents with her extensive knowledge of the Aspen area and became a successful broker with Carol Ann Jacobson Realty in the burgeoning real estate market.
After retiring, Jackie continued to pursue her passions for skiing, horseback riding, watercolor painting and entertaining. Traveling had always been a part of her life taking her to Europe, Africa, India and Southeast Asia. She loved to dance, especially the Jitterbug, and had a bottomless appetite for vanilla ice cream.
Jaqueline is survived by her four daughters; Judy Haas, Jennifer Greene (Dan Gruenefeldt), Susan Greene, Wendy Wogan (Matt Shapcott), grandchildren Jessica Cox, Walker Hill (Olivia Hill), Benjamin Karbank, Nathaniel Karbank, Coulter Turchin (Alli Turchin), Tyler Turchin, great granddaughter Payton Turchin, sister Judith Warren, brother William Thaxter III and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by sisters Jean Brett and Janis Folsom.

Join us for a Celebration of Life on Sunday, August 25th, from 3 – 5pm at Heather’s in Basalt.