Frederick G. Vosburgh (1904–2005)

Ted Vosburgh’s earliest success resulted in his winning five dollars for an essay published in the American Boy magazine. Mr. Vosburgh helped to start the Johnstown High School newspaper, becoming its first editor. He wrote about sports while attending Syracuse University, where he became editor of his college yearbook. He worked for the Syracuse Post Standard newspaper before joining the Associated Press. Ted spent seven years with the AP and in 1933 joined the National Geographic. During WWII he served with the Army Air Corps editing intelligence material. Thirty days after D-Day he landed at Omaha Beach. In service he earned the Bronze Star and the Air Medal. After WWII he returned to National Geographic where he by-lined articles ranging from fireflies, jets and the endangered everglades. As a result of his skill as an editor he became assistant editor in 1951 and associate editor in 1957. In 1967 he ascended to the position of editor of the National Geographic magazine. After retiring he became a volunteer driver for the Red Cross and made deliveries for Meals on Wheels well into his nineties.

He died of pneumonia Feb. 16, 2005 at Shady Grove, Md., Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. He was 100.