Stephen D. Vogt, of Lahaina, Hawaii, formerly of Bel Air, California and Napa Valley, passed away on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, at the age of 73.

Stephen was born September 17, 1951, in Burbank, California to Lyn and Eileen Vogt. He received a bachelor’s degree at UCLA in economics and political science and a Juris Doctorate from Southwestern Law School in Los Angeles.

Stephen started paying claims for Blue Cross Blue Shield of California while he was still in college, joined the accounting department after graduating from UCLA, worked full time while attending law school, eventually joining their legal team after becoming a member of the California Bar Association. Stephen became the youngest general counsel for Blue Cross Blue Shield at the age of 29. He later founded a successful law firm focusing on healthcare law and other areas of legal specialty. In his private practice, Stephen aided HMO Health Net to transition to a publicly traded organization and later became Health Net’s General Counsel.

After retiring from a successful legal career, Stephen and his wife Nita developed Vogt Vineyard on Howell Mountain in Napa Valley and sold their wines under popular labels such as Beringer and Nichol & Nichol.

Stephen enjoyed playing golf, watching baseball (Go Dodgers!), and traveling the world with his wife of forty-four years, Nita Vogt. In addition to his wife, Stephen leaves behind sister, Lynette Ballas and her husband, Bill; sister-in-law, Tricia Miller and her husband, Darrin Bachman; niece, Lara Azcona; nephews, Jonathan Ballas, Kevin Ballas, David Thomason and his wife Teresa; numerous other extended family members and friends.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to your favorite children’s charity in memory of Stephen.