Allen Eugene Ogard

Allen Eugene Ogard passed away in Santa Fe on March 29, 2026 after a long and glorious life. He will now go to be with his loving wife Elvira “Elvie” Vigil Ogard. 

 Allen was born at home December 9, 1931, in Ada, Minnesota, a town with a population of 2000. He was the youngest of four, born to Mabel Bang Ogard and Olaf Christian Ogard. 

His youth was spent in Ada followed by studies at St. Olaf College and graduate studies at the University of Chicago where he received a PhD in inorganic chemistry. There his advisor was Harold Urey, recipient of the 1934 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Allen worked at LANL for 30+ years as a nuclear chemist. His work focused on nuclear medicine, nuclear waste and, for a few years, as a technical advisor to the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty.

 After retirement he spent many years as a student of photography, media arts and print making at SFCC. As a scientist, his interest involved understanding “seeing” and “light”, and he enjoyed making home-made pinhole cameras which have no lenses. He also had a number of outdoor pursuits including skiing, fly fishing and hiking.

 He is preceded in death by his wife of 60 years, Elvira Vigil Ogard, his parents Mabel and Olaf Ogard, his sister Marian Severson and husband Allan Severson, his brother James Ogard and wife Lenore Ogard Haug, and his sister Dorthy Cheple and her husband Louis.

 He is survived by his daughter Anita Ogard and husband George Strickland, their daughter Chloe Strickland, his daughter Suzanne Alba and husband Christopher Alba, their children Sophia Scott (Brandon Scott), and Emory Alba. He is also survived by three great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

 A private celebration of a life well lived will be held at a later date.