Obituaries

He was a Richmond native and owned a dry-goods store in Burgaw, N.C., until serving in the Army during World War II. Afterward, he and his brother Leo owned Amster's Food Market in Baltimore.

His memberships included Congregation Beth El, a Conservative synagogue in Bethesda, the Masons and Montgomery Mall Walkers, a walking group.

His wife of 64 years, Faye Shapiro Amster, died in 2003.

Survivors include two children, Jayson Amster of University Park and Carole Diamond of Frederick; a brother, Leo Amster of Baltimore; three grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

-- Adam Bernstein

James W. BroganTraining Director

James W. Brogan, 78, who spent 30 years in the federal government and retired as director of training with the General Services Administration, died of congestive heart failure March 28 at his home in Adelphi.

Mr. Brogan worked with the Civil Service Commission (now the Office of Personnel Management) before joining GSA. He directed training at GSA for seven years before retiring in 1986.

He then spent 15 years in real estate in Maryland before retiring from Long & Foster.

Mr. Brogan was born in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., and was drafted in 1951 into the Army, serving stateside for two years. He received a bachelor's degree in political science from Rutgers University in 1956.

He was active at St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church in Hyattsville, where he also served with the Knights of Columbus and as a Eucharistic minister and as a member of the Arimatheans.