I’m a freelance writer and educator based in Philadelphia. I am so pleased to share the release of The Little Gate Crasher, a memoir of my truly extraordinary Great Uncle, Mace Bugen. My other recent books include The Creative Jewish Wedding Book and Reflection, Expression, Courage: A Journal For Parents On The Special Needs Journey.
I’m now blogging on Medium, too. As director of “Whole Community Inclusion” at Jewish Learning Venture, I have the awesome opportunity of leading disability awareness training across the Philadelphia Jewish Community.
I recently had the chance to record an ELI Talk about my experience as a mom of a son with autism:
My family includes husband Fred (Director of Operations at The Center For Art In Wood), our kids George, 18 and June, 15, and our Saluki, Odin.
Please feel free to connect with me on facebook or twitter or send me an old-fashioned email to gabriellekm@gmail.com.
You can sign up for my quarterly e-news full of resources here.
This is me with my big sister Julie and amazing Great-Uncle Mace Bugen. You’ve got to read his story!
As a lifelong Phillipsburg resident, I was happy to see the Morning Call article about your book. I ordered a paperback version from Amazon and have read it already. I didn’t know Mace Bugen personally, but I certainly saw him quite often, usually coming or going at his office at the corner of Marshall and Warren streets, only a few blocks from my home. I remember as a child riding in the car with my dad, and he would point and say, “There’s Macey!” And when I was older and driving to work myself, I passed by his office every day and would see him occasionally. Seems like everyone in P’burg knew who he was. It was nice to find out more about him. Your book is terrific! Thank you for writing it.
Thanks so much for writing Janet! Please leave a review on amazon when you have time!
Hello,
What a joy it was reading “The Little Gate-Crasher”. I grew up around the corner from the Bugens on Firth St. I remember as a child going to the market and how nice Jacob was. Of course, we all knew Mace. My father would always speak to him when he would see him around the neighborhood. I was aware of his passion for boxing and that he attended all the big fights. But I was not aware of his knack of collecting photos of himself with celebrities. What a great hobby !
Mace had a large sign outside his office – “MACE BUGEN NOTARY PUBLIC”. ( I think it was when he had his office on the Marshall St. side of the family complex.) After college, I lived in NYC for 40 years on East 16th St. One day, probably around 2005, I visited a new restaurant on my street. Their décor consisted of old signs. And up on the wall was Mace’s notary sign ! What great serendipity ! I was so totally amazed and I spent the next15 minutes informing the waiter about the incredible Mace. What fond memories that sign evoked. Every time I brought friends or business colleagues to the restaurant I would point to the sign and talk about Mace. So there’s a group of New Yorkers familiar with him. Your book also brought back great memories. Thank you.
Thanks for writing michael–great to hear from you! yes, we’ve heard from others who saw Mace’s sign in NYC! Love it. Please add a short review on amazon when you have time and spread the word about the book to family and friends! Thanks for writing! You can find me on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/littlegatecrasher/
When I was a little boy, growing up in Phillipsburg,NJ, we lived 1 block from the high school softball field. Your Uncle regularly attended the home games, always arriving in his Willys Jeep. As a child, I was unaware of his adventures. He was always kind and quite pleasant.