

Deborah Boyle Grogan
Class of 1975
This One's for You
By Barry Manilow 1976



Phenomenal Woman
Worked at Frankford Arsenal
Wife, Mother, Grandmother
Backup Singer for Kenny Rogers at the Valley Forge Music Festival
Local Band Singer
Part-time Wedding Photographer
Scrapbook Hobbyist
Bread Baker
Barry Manilow's #1 Fan
F-A.COM: Tell us about your life after graduation.
DEBORAH: I worked at the Frankford Arsenal in the Aviation Supply Office as a supply clerk, where I helped requisition aviation parts.
After ten years working in Philadelphia, I was transferred out to a government contractor in New Jersey. I was responsible for the Navy Aegis Ships (war ships), and it's where I met my husband, who retired after 25 years in the Navy.
We married in 1995 and have three sons, including two step sons, ages: 37, 32 and 27. We have two grandchildren, a boy and a girl, ages: seven and two.
While my husband was in the Navy, we lived in Chesapeake, Virginia, Pepsicola, Florida, Wisconsin, Hastings, Michigan and locally where I live in Southeastern, Indiana.
F-A.COM: How did FKD prepare you for adulthood?
I took a lot of clerical classes, which helped me to initially get my job. I also had a lot of AP classes, and attended LaSalle for two years. All of these pursuits prepared me for future jobs.
F-A.COM: Who inspired you at Frankford?
My AP 11th & 12th grade English teacher, Mr. Donohoe. He showed us a lot of things in literature and instilled in us an appreciation of the arts. I will always remember the time we went on a field trip to Washington, DC, visited the Smithsonian, saw Governor Wallace and interviewed Former U.S. Representative/Senator and President Reagan's Confidante, Dick Schweiker.
F-A.COM: What was one of your most memorable moments?
DEBORAH: Singing backup for Kenny Rogers at the Valley Forge Music Fair. One of their singers became ill and they heard me sing with a band at the Holiday Inn. They asked me if I could sing with them. After the concert, they talked to me about going on tour with them, but my mother had eye issues, and eventually became blind. My father passed away when I was 19. I didn't want to leave my mother, so I declined their offer.
I've been singing for quite some time. I had a professional singing career from age 19 to 30. I still perform. I’ve done the national anthem for sporting events and sang in hotel bands. I recently performed with a show choir in Michigan, sang with a 30-piece band at a showcase, performed a show in Connorsville, Indiana and recently auditioned for an orchestra.
I studied voice training for two years with Jerry Jaye, an entertainer and voice coach.
F-A.COM: What was your most embarrassing moment at Frankford?
DEBORAH: My mother was a hairdresser. One day, I made the mistake of getting a perm. I was walking around with a hat on for days.
F-A.COM: If you could go back in time to Frankford, what would you whisper in your 17-year-old ear?
DEBORAH: Finish your education. Keep going. If you get a chance to do something amazing go with it.
F-A.COM: What are your hobbies?
DEBORAH: Scrapbooking, photography, (I'm a part-time wedding photographer) cooking and I love baking bread. But, my most favorite thing to do is spending time with my grandkids.
F-A.COM: What advice would you give today's students?
DEBORAH: Stay safe and healthy. Do the things you need to do to stay safe. My husband is a physician and has his own practice. He sees many COVID patients. It's very real. My youngest had it. He was in the ICU for five days.
F-A.COM: What's your favorite quote?
DEBORAH: For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present and threatening, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ, Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39.