Manatee High School graduate, 1967
Bradenton, FL
Born April 9, 1949, died August 26, 2017, Palmetto and Anna Maria Island, FL.
Son of Norma and Earl Torgeson.
Andy didn't have degrees or letters after his name. He was never the president of any club. But chapters of Andy's life told a story many would envy. He was independent, adventurous and free-spirited. He was born into a baseball family. His father, Earl Torgeson, was in the Big Leagues. From the time he was a toddler he had his own baseball uniform and he dressed out and went to batting practice with his Dad every day in the summer. When he was older he sat in the dugout during games with some of the best of the big league, "Boys of Summer." He grew up on Anna Maria Island, and always loved the water. He skied, surfed, sailed, and just messed about in boats. Andy regularly fished at the Island piers; then he started diving and spear fishing (including under the piers strictly against the rules). He was the best all-around athlete in the Manatee High School's history.
Andy graduated in 1967 as a four-letter athlete: football, basketball, baseball and track. He was a constant irritation to the football coaches because he hated August practice. It was too hot, so he went to the water instead. For more than 40 years, he held the record for most passing yards in a single game (335) and most completed passes in a single game, from back when Manatee was just a little school playing big Tampa schools. Andy had a football scholarship with Florida State, but realized before season started he did not want to play football. He played basketball at Edison Junior College before playing for New York Yankees minor league teams for several years. Andy later said, "Playing baseball was someone else's dream, but not mine."
Andy worked construction, crisscrossed the country countless times between Florida and Washington, and stopped to gamble with pals in their annual week at Lake Tahoe. He loved to gamble. He lived at Lands End on and off, working and building boats with Tom Mayers.
For years he struggled with pain that had no apparent diagnosis until he was in his early 40s. He then discovered he had Cystic Fibrosis, which was rarely diagnosed in adults. Andy still continued to find ways to enjoy his life.
About 20 years ago, he fell in love with Mary Jo Fitzgerald. They went sailing and anchored out overnight. They explored some of Florida's rivers in the skiff he built. They bought a poptop camper. They drove around the country, taking roads less traveled. If Andy saw a golf course he liked, they would stop for the night and play the next day. Sadly, Mary Jo passed away in December 2016.
Andy died peacefully with family by his side. He is survived by sister, Christine van Zandt, brother in law, John van Zandt, niece, Ana Cross, her husband, Nate and their two children, Will and Sophia, many members of his extended family in Washington State and Minnesota, and some really good friends.
There will be a private family service.
Memorial donations may be made to:
The Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage
P.O. Box 606
Cortez, FL 34215
Funeral Home
The Good Earth Crematory
501 17th Avenue West
Bradenton, FL 34205
(941)748-7756
Published in The Bradenton Herald on September 01, 2017.
Bradenton, FL
Born April 9, 1949, died August 26, 2017, Palmetto and Anna Maria Island, FL.
Son of Norma and Earl Torgeson.
Andy didn't have degrees or letters after his name. He was never the president of any club. But chapters of Andy's life told a story many would envy. He was independent, adventurous and free-spirited. He was born into a baseball family. His father, Earl Torgeson, was in the Big Leagues. From the time he was a toddler he had his own baseball uniform and he dressed out and went to batting practice with his Dad every day in the summer. When he was older he sat in the dugout during games with some of the best of the big league, "Boys of Summer." He grew up on Anna Maria Island, and always loved the water. He skied, surfed, sailed, and just messed about in boats. Andy regularly fished at the Island piers; then he started diving and spear fishing (including under the piers strictly against the rules). He was the best all-around athlete in the Manatee High School's history.
Andy graduated in 1967 as a four-letter athlete: football, basketball, baseball and track. He was a constant irritation to the football coaches because he hated August practice. It was too hot, so he went to the water instead. For more than 40 years, he held the record for most passing yards in a single game (335) and most completed passes in a single game, from back when Manatee was just a little school playing big Tampa schools. Andy had a football scholarship with Florida State, but realized before season started he did not want to play football. He played basketball at Edison Junior College before playing for New York Yankees minor league teams for several years. Andy later said, "Playing baseball was someone else's dream, but not mine."
Andy worked construction, crisscrossed the country countless times between Florida and Washington, and stopped to gamble with pals in their annual week at Lake Tahoe. He loved to gamble. He lived at Lands End on and off, working and building boats with Tom Mayers.
For years he struggled with pain that had no apparent diagnosis until he was in his early 40s. He then discovered he had Cystic Fibrosis, which was rarely diagnosed in adults. Andy still continued to find ways to enjoy his life.
About 20 years ago, he fell in love with Mary Jo Fitzgerald. They went sailing and anchored out overnight. They explored some of Florida's rivers in the skiff he built. They bought a poptop camper. They drove around the country, taking roads less traveled. If Andy saw a golf course he liked, they would stop for the night and play the next day. Sadly, Mary Jo passed away in December 2016.
Andy died peacefully with family by his side. He is survived by sister, Christine van Zandt, brother in law, John van Zandt, niece, Ana Cross, her husband, Nate and their two children, Will and Sophia, many members of his extended family in Washington State and Minnesota, and some really good friends.
There will be a private family service.
Memorial donations may be made to:
The Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage
P.O. Box 606
Cortez, FL 34215
Funeral Home
The Good Earth Crematory
501 17th Avenue West
Bradenton, FL 34205
(941)748-7756
Published in The Bradenton Herald on September 01, 2017.
Manatee High School graduate, 1967
Bradenton, FL
Born April 9, 1949, died August 26, 2017, Palmetto and Anna Maria Island, FL.
Son of Norma and Earl Torgeson.
Andy didn't have degrees or letters after his name. He was never the president of any club. But chapters of Andy's life told a story many would envy. He was independent, adventurous and free-spirited. He was born into a baseball family. His father, Earl Torgeson, was in the Big Leagues. From the time he was a toddler he had his own baseball uniform and he dressed out and went to batting practice with his Dad every day in the summer. When he was older he sat in the dugout during games with some of the best of the big league, "Boys of Summer." He grew up on Anna Maria Island, and always loved the water. He skied, surfed, sailed, and just messed about in boats. Andy regularly fished at the Island piers; then he started diving and spear fishing (including under the piers strictly against the rules). He was the best all-around athlete in the Manatee High School's history.
Andy graduated in 1967 as a four-letter athlete: football, basketball, baseball and track. He was a constant irritation to the football coaches because he hated August practice. It was too hot, so he went to the water instead. For more than 40 years, he held the record for most passing yards in a single game (335) and most completed passes in a single game, from back when Manatee was just a little school playing big Tampa schools. Andy had a football scholarship with Florida State, but realized before season started he did not want to play football. He played basketball at Edison Junior College before playing for New York Yankees minor league teams for several years. Andy later said, "Playing baseball was someone else's dream, but not mine."
Andy worked construction, crisscrossed the country countless times between Florida and Washington, and stopped to gamble with pals in their annual week at Lake Tahoe. He loved to gamble. He lived at Lands End on and off, working and building boats with Tom Mayers.
For years he struggled with pain that had no apparent diagnosis until he was in his early 40s. He then discovered he had Cystic Fibrosis, which was rarely diagnosed in adults. Andy still continued to find ways to enjoy his life.
About 20 years ago, he fell in love with Mary Jo Fitzgerald. They went sailing and anchored out overnight. They explored some of Florida's rivers in the skiff he built. They bought a poptop camper. They drove around the country, taking roads less traveled. If Andy saw a golf course he liked, they would stop for the night and play the next day. Sadly, Mary Jo passed away in December 2016.
Andy died peacefully with family by his side. He is survived by sister, Christine van Zandt, brother in law, John van Zandt, niece, Ana Cross, her husband, Nate and their two children, Will and Sophia, many members of his extended family in Washington State and Minnesota, and some really good friends.
There will be a private family service.
Memorial donations may be made to:
The Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage
P.O. Box 606
Cortez, FL 34215
Funeral Home
The Good Earth Crematory
501 17th Avenue West
Bradenton, FL 34205
(941)748-7756
Published in The Bradenton Herald on September 01, 2017.
Bradenton, FL
Born April 9, 1949, died August 26, 2017, Palmetto and Anna Maria Island, FL.
Son of Norma and Earl Torgeson.
Andy didn't have degrees or letters after his name. He was never the president of any club. But chapters of Andy's life told a story many would envy. He was independent, adventurous and free-spirited. He was born into a baseball family. His father, Earl Torgeson, was in the Big Leagues. From the time he was a toddler he had his own baseball uniform and he dressed out and went to batting practice with his Dad every day in the summer. When he was older he sat in the dugout during games with some of the best of the big league, "Boys of Summer." He grew up on Anna Maria Island, and always loved the water. He skied, surfed, sailed, and just messed about in boats. Andy regularly fished at the Island piers; then he started diving and spear fishing (including under the piers strictly against the rules). He was the best all-around athlete in the Manatee High School's history.
Andy graduated in 1967 as a four-letter athlete: football, basketball, baseball and track. He was a constant irritation to the football coaches because he hated August practice. It was too hot, so he went to the water instead. For more than 40 years, he held the record for most passing yards in a single game (335) and most completed passes in a single game, from back when Manatee was just a little school playing big Tampa schools. Andy had a football scholarship with Florida State, but realized before season started he did not want to play football. He played basketball at Edison Junior College before playing for New York Yankees minor league teams for several years. Andy later said, "Playing baseball was someone else's dream, but not mine."
Andy worked construction, crisscrossed the country countless times between Florida and Washington, and stopped to gamble with pals in their annual week at Lake Tahoe. He loved to gamble. He lived at Lands End on and off, working and building boats with Tom Mayers.
For years he struggled with pain that had no apparent diagnosis until he was in his early 40s. He then discovered he had Cystic Fibrosis, which was rarely diagnosed in adults. Andy still continued to find ways to enjoy his life.
About 20 years ago, he fell in love with Mary Jo Fitzgerald. They went sailing and anchored out overnight. They explored some of Florida's rivers in the skiff he built. They bought a poptop camper. They drove around the country, taking roads less traveled. If Andy saw a golf course he liked, they would stop for the night and play the next day. Sadly, Mary Jo passed away in December 2016.
Andy died peacefully with family by his side. He is survived by sister, Christine van Zandt, brother in law, John van Zandt, niece, Ana Cross, her husband, Nate and their two children, Will and Sophia, many members of his extended family in Washington State and Minnesota, and some really good friends.
There will be a private family service.
Memorial donations may be made to:
The Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage
P.O. Box 606
Cortez, FL 34215
Funeral Home
The Good Earth Crematory
501 17th Avenue West
Bradenton, FL 34205
(941)748-7756
Published in The Bradenton Herald on September 01, 2017.
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Advertisement
