Lucas Antonisse
December 29, 2016
Rest in Peace, mi querido Michael Krugman.
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I had already been worried about a tango friend for a while, a formerly very active friend, who disappeared, and then resurfaced, promising us that everything would soon return to normal. I knew that lately, there, on an extremely distant island, things were not working out for him, that he couldn’t return to Buenos Aires as soon as he in fact wanted, and worse, that he had some health issues. Many of our mutual tango friends, and me, valued, admired Michael for the passionate, extremely dedicated way he worked on his superb tango translations, on lunfardo, and later, with a similar almost childlike enthousiasm, he presented us his Tango Time Machine, an extensive research in primary sources.
Michael was a special, eccentric person, someone with true character, full of dedication, full of initiative, and for me a true friend. Strangely enough, other than some of my most valued international tango friends, I never got to meet Michael in person (in a strange twist of fate, after his long stay this year, he left Buenos Aires the day I arrived), but especially this year, we communicated endlessly through text, and in one way or another, he supported me so much during my most recent stay in Argentina, this summer. We had so much in common, and from such distance, he helped me with not just my own archive work but I always felt there was someone who knew exactly what, in both good and bad times, en la buena y la mala, I was experiencing over there, in that bizarre, yet wonderful city, whose unrivaled nostalgic melancholy obsessed him like no one else. Buenos Aires seemed to be the love of his life, which was obvious from the way he wrote about the city and its milongas. He seemed especially happy to spend time in Los Consagrados, on Saturdays, in the Centro Región Leonesa, and with his typical enthousiasm, he even wrote extensively about this painting on my picture below, which in itself is typical for all the oddities and peculiarities he had attention for, and which made him stand out. When I took this photo, I thought of him, and whenever I return to that building, I will especially celebrate Michael’s legacy.
Michael was quite the character, and such a loving person, and it’s devastating for me personally, and thinking of all the work he did, for our international tango community, to have found out he has passed away a few days ago. Michael, I hope you magically resurface once again, telling me this is all untrue, but in any case, I am so grateful to have known you, you became, in one way or another, one of those shining stars, an enlightening, enriching brightness in a sometimes so grey, dreary, meaningless life. In such a relatively short time, you became meaningful in my life, and this beacon of light will live on inside my memories of you, your talent and your dedication. Qué en paz descanses, Michael. In whatever way I can, I swear that in my life I will carry the banner of your affection for tango and Buenos Aires, your dreams will not be in vain.
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Michael wrote me months ago that he no longer wanted to live in Hawaii and was seriously considering Buenos Aires to dedicate himself to writing two tango books. He sent me a few chapters asking for my comments. At the last minute, he had to postpone his Dec 3 arrival in Buenos Aires for health reasons.
Our first tanda was Dec 23, 2015, in Lo de Celia. I discovered his blog Tango Time Machine where he mentioned his upcoming visit to Buenos Aires, so I asked him to contact me so we could meet. I knew after reading his blog that I wanted to meet him.
Thanks for your many gifts Michael.
Michael was my closest friend from 1965 (when we were 15) to the present. He usually spent a few days with us in NJ when his Sounder Sleep teaching schedule brought him through NYC. We kept in touch a few times a year by phone and email. Years ago when he was still living in NYC and practicing Feldenkrais®, he had me build him a treatment table in my cabinet shop. If anyone has any details on his illness or passing, I would very much like to hear from you.
Thank you for all posts on Michael’s tribute page and notes by email. We will be sharing online during a gathering:
Honouring Michael Krugman
2-4pm PM Saturday October 7, 2017
We plan to contribute our stories, music, and deep thoughts in honour of our wonderful teacher, so creative in his projects worldwide, evoking his passion for ‘Reversibility’ and a peaceful ‘Sounder World’.
With deep sadness and gratitude,
Katarina
Hi Katarina, I hope to be able to join the Zoom memorial by 2:30 Saturday. Thank you!
Dear LeeAnn,
We look forward to seeing you when you can arrive.
The Zoom link will be coming for everyone by email closer to the time.
With warm appreciation that you can be with us for our gathering to honour Michael,
Katarina
I met Michael in the mid 70’s in NYC as he was a friend and roommate of my boyfriend at the time. Then lost touch until reconnecting with him in the early 2000’s when he had relocated to Albuquerque and we were both part of the Sufi Foundation of America that held summer retreats in the nearby mountains. It was fascinating to learn about his journey since Visual Arts reinventing himself along the way with spiritual and physical practices (Qigong in particular) and creating a viable business from his self-healing knowledge to teach people how to sleep. I attended a Sounder Sleep workshop in Florida and he was so passionate about sharing research and devising exercises to heal others.
May he be dancing in unison with other fine souls!
I met Michael in the mid 70’s in NYC as he was a friend and roommate of my boyfriend at the time. Then lost touch until reconnecting with him in the early 2000’s when he had relocated to Albuquerque and we were both part of the Sufi Foundation of America that held summer retreats in the nearby mountains. It was fascinating to learn about his journey since Visual Arts reinventing himself along the way with spiritual and physical practices (Qigong in particular) and creating a viable business from his self-healing knowledge to teach people how to sleep. I attended a Sounder Sleep workshop in Florida and he was so passionate about sharing research and devising exercises to heal others.
May he be dancing in unison with other fine souls!
I loved Michael. We met, I don’t even remember when, but we bonded. We had our ups and downs and didn’t talk enough. He was brilliant and generous. I would love to be at your tribute but cannot on that day. Please keep me informed of any others.
Thank you for doing this,
Beth
Honouring Michael Oct 7 Zoom link
Again welcoming you to join us for our memorial gathering by Zoom:
* Saturday, October 7, 2017
2-4 PM Pacific time / 5-7 PM Eastern time /
10PM-12AM UK / 11PM-1AM Europe /
* Sunday, October 8, 2017 5-7 AM Indonesian time
Honouring Michael Krugman
January 16, 1951 to December 24, 2016.
“Take all the time you need for each breath!”
—Michael Krugman
Feldenkrais® Teacher and
Founder of SOUNDER SLEEP SYSTEM™
I have sent the Zoom link for many of you who registered,
and continue to respond to your special notes, thank you.
For those who have not yet received the Zoom link
and would like to be with us for the gathering
PLEASE
R.S.V.P. to this page
or email [email protected]
or telephone: (1)-604-263-9123
(1 is the country code for Canada)
With sadness and gratitude for our friend and teacher,
Katarina
Honouring Michael Oct 7 – A Musical note
Janet Vincent writes:
“Jim, my husband, and I will be joining the ZOOM gathering.
I met Michael in the early 2000’s when I hosted a Sounder Sleep System™ workshop and training program.
When Michael stayed with us, he and Jim had a shared a love of music. When I told Jim about Michael’s passing, Jim reflected upon their time together, and how he helped Michael find a particular musical instrument that Michael wanted to own and enjoy.”
I remember Michael from the ’90’s when he practiced in NYC. Bright-eyed and energetic, quietly and intensely present, he was deeply committed to his work. Our paths crossed at various Guild activities, especially as he developed his “Sounder Sleep” program. . . . which I still recommend to students. Michael’s calm, caring teaching invited exactly the quality he believed we might find within ourselves. In a workshop, as we lay resting after the final ATM, Michael covered each of us with a fine silk shawl. With barely any weight to it, this softest possible touch reinforced the suggestion of a particular quality, a way of being. I immediately added such a shawl to my props. Whereas a woolen shawl offers warmth in winter, in summer this whisp of gossamer ‘warms’ in a different way. Thank you Michael. You gave us an experience of how we might be if we could be . . . .
I hope that Michael found the peace he knew was possible.
I met Michael in the early 2000’s when he taught Sounder Sleep System in California. He was so smart and so creative – very present and unpretentious. I so appreciate his artistry in everything he did! Learning Sounder Sleep helped me so much. We developed a friendship and a working relationship. I organized trainings for him in Northern California for a number of years. The last time I saw him was during the 2014 FGNA conference in San Mateo. We went Tango dancing in San Francisco and talked about maybe doing that again in another year or so, to see how we improved. Heartfelt thanks, Michael, for everything! The flame went out too soon for me, but I hope you know how many people you helped and inspired.
I’m so very sorry to hear this news so belatedly. I studied Feldenkrais with Michael in New York in the late 90s. I always looked forward to those visits to W. 86th St. Michael was so gifted.