Mike Vogt of Patchogue, longtime Newsday employee, dies at 63

He was a key member of the team behind the scenes at Newsday, a graphic artist who created logos and promotional campaigns.

The logo for Newsday's Dangerous Roads series? That was Mike Vogt. The Newsday Investigates logo? That was Mike Vogt.

A longtime Patchogue resident, Vogt apparently suffered a medical emergency while he was driving and crashed his 2012 Hyundai into the median on North Ocean Avenue in Coram on Dec. 26, Suffolk County police said. Vogt was transported to Stony Brook University Hospital, where he died. He was 63.

For 18 years, Vogt worked as a designer for Newsday's consumer marketing team.

"We are incredibly saddened by the news of our colleague Mike's death," Rochell Bishop Sleets, Newsday's editor and chief content officer, said. "Mike’s design work helped to give some of our most impactful stories more prominence. He will be greatly missed. Our deepest sympathies go out to his family during this difficult time."

Newsday's director of marketing, Royston Wilson, said he hired Vogt in September 2007 — Vogt's resume grabbed his attention because it was adorned with an orange cube containing his initials.

"You know, it might sound a bit crazy," Wilson said. "But out of all the resumes I got, his stood out because of that — this little icon at the bottom with MV. ... He was quiet, he had his moments. But his productivity was off the charts. He did the work of three people."

And that work was indispensable, Wilson said.

"All the weekly promotions, the full-page ads, the digital ads and the emails. That's him," Wilson said. "One of the main things he was known for was doing logos. For us, he was known as 'The Logo Guy.' "

Born in Astoria, Queens, on April 10, 1962, Vogt lived in the borough's Corona neighborhood before his parents, Michael and Marie, moved the family to Selden when he was 2, said his older sister, Karen Rotundi, of Sound Beach. Vogt graduated from Newfield High School, Suffolk County Community College and SUNY Farmingdale, now Farmingdale State College.

He began his career with the circular Yankee Trader, and later worked for the magazine The Fisherman and the real estate publication ForSaleByOwner, she said.

Vogt had a beloved dog, Roscoe, according to his sister. He was a fan of "Star Trek" and "Star Wars," old comic books and jazz. He played keyboards, his sister said, and also played trombone in the school jazz band at Newfield. He sketched comic figures and painted in watercolors and oil.

In addition to being an artist and a musician, Rotundi said her brother also was a great chef.

"He loved to cook," she said, "and he could cook everything. Complicated things, dishes you would get in a restaurant. Not grilled cheese."

Vogt never married. His sister; her husband, Joseph; their children, Vincent and Vanessa; and a grand-niece are his survivors.

Rotundi said her brother was diabetic and had stents placed following a heart attack three years ago.

He had celebrated both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day at her house. "He was joking," she said. "There were no signs at all he was having any kind of problems."

Former Newsday co-worker and longtime friend Rich Forestano said he nicknamed Vogt "Sunshine" because of his sarcastic sense of humor.

"He could be very grumpy," Forestano said. "... But he had a softer side once you got to know him. And he could be very funny."

Each Christmas, Vogt sent friends a newsletter about the year that was, highlighted with his artwork, logos, drawings and his thoughts on the state of the world. This year's newsletter included artwork of a sunglasses-wearing Santa making the peace sign, a sketch of Bigfoot, a graphic including Yoda from "Star Wars" — and a photo of Vogt with Forestano and two other Newsday colleagues at an afterwork gathering.

It also included a "day in the life!" dissertation centered around Vogt's annual colonoscopy.

"So, are you getting the ongoing theme here?" Vogt wrote. "At the time, I didn't. It's like the universe or the almighty was trying big time to give me subliminal hints."

Vogt ended the two-page newsletter with a shoutout to his friends, offering: "Cheers, Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, Peace and all the good things that go with it! Let's hope 2026 is waaaaaay better than this year was. — Mike."

A memorial service will be held from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at the Moloney Funeral Home on Ronkonkoma Avenue in Lake Ronkonkoma.