Pastor Gary Kugler, muere a la edad de 76, quien hospedo a mendigos del Mariel en Union City

Union City-

En el sótano de una pequeña iglesia se le dio albergue a una ola de desamparados refugiados cubanos que llegaron a Unión City

Aquellos que amparados por el Reverendo: Horst Gerhardt "Gary" Kugler quien no solo fue Pastor de San John iglesia Luterana sino quien también se constituyo un baluarte de la comunidad por más de 40 años

Después de varias décadas de ayudar a otros, Kugler muere el 15 de Mayo/2015 en el Hackensack Medical Center, después de haber luchado con un cáncer en el páncreas.

"Es una perdida grande para la comunidad, especialmente los necesitados y los pobres de Unión City y el condado Hudson" Cito Tom Harrigan, director del programa "Palisades Emergency Residence Corporation (PERC)". "El era muy importante para muchas personas."

Kugler abrió un albergue en Unión City en los 1980 en un cuarto pequeño de su iglesia, como respuesta al flujo de emigrantes cubanos que necesitaban algún lugar para estar.

El albergue eventualmente se mudo de la iglesia se relocalizo convirtiéndose en (PERC) Palisades Emergency Residence Corporation. Harrigan conoció a Kugler desde que este empezó a trabajar en este albergue 20 años atrás

El cita que Kugler cuidaba intensamente por el refugio y a los necesitados que el servía. El Pastor tenía el efecto de calmar a las personas quienes les daba sus consejos y los confortaba. Harrigan dice Kugler se mantuvo activo hasta después que su albergue en la calle 36 fue relocalizado, cuando alguien se asomaba a su puerta a las 2:00 am el los recibía y llamaba a Harrigan en la mañana para ver si había un espacio en PERC

"Gary Kugler Fue verdaderamente muy humanitario. El realmente creía en las personas " Harrigan cita "La puerta estaba siempre abierta, y él nunca rechazo a nadie.

Kugler fue Pastor de San John Iglesia Luterana desde 1966, después de haberse graduado del seminario Luterano de Filadelfia.

El comenzó el albergue en la ciudad como también una clínica pre-natal en la iglesia.

Roxanne Cintron-Paterson una antigua voluntaria del albergue de los desamparados, dice Kugler visito a su hermana en el hospital tres veces a la semana antes que ella muriera después de un año con cáncer, en ese tiempo Kugler el mismo era tratado con quimioterapia, "El ayudo tantas personas" cita ella "El era tan amable con mi hermana, fue una gran persona."

El esposo, Richard Patterson cita que el conoció a Kugler cuando él era el pastor de Good Shepherd Lutheran Church en Weehawken. Patterson dice Kugler atendía las misas ellos dos se convirtieron enseguida en amigos. El recuerda haber sido voluntario en el albergue de Unión City ofreciéndole a Kugler algunas comidas que los voluntarios habían hecho para los refugiados.

Sin embargo el Pastor rehusaba tomar la comida de alguien del albergue el solo tomaba un emparedado de crema de gelatina "jelly sandwich" El siempre pensaba en los demás antes que si mismo.

A Kugler le sobreviven sus hijas Greta, Christa, Susanna and Joanna.Tambien tres hermanas, Margaret, Eva and Dorothea.

Puede escribirle Kathryn Brenzel

kbrenzel@njadvancemedia.com.

Twitter @katiebrenzel.

Find NJ.com on Facebook

By:Kathryn Brenzel may be reached at kbrenzel@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @katiebrenzel. Find NJ.com on Facebook

Rev. Gary Kugler, who started Union City homeless shelter, dies at 76

UNION CITY—In the basement of a small church, a homeless shelter welcomed a wave of Cuban refugees who escaped to Union City.

Those who sought help found themselves in the care of Rev. Horst Gerhardt "Gary" Kugler, who not only served as pastor of St. John Lutheran Church but ultimately became a fixture in the community for more than 40 years.

After several decades of helping others, Kugler died on May 15 at Hackensack Medical Center, after a struggle with pancreatic cancer.

"It's a big loss to the community, especially the poor and needy of Union City and Hudson County," said Tom Harrigan, program director at the Palisades Emergency Residence Corporation (PERC). "He was very important to so many people."

Kugler opened the Union City homeless shelter in the 1980s, in a small room in his church, in response to an influx of Cuban immigrants who needed somewhere to stay,according to his obituary. The shelter eventually moved to the church's hall, and then relocated and became PERC. Harrigan has known Kugler since he started working for the shelter roughly 20 years ago.

He said Kugler cared deeply for the shelter and those it served. The pastor had a calming effect on people, and many sought words of advice and comfort from the him, Harrigan said. He remained active with the shelter even after it relocated to 36th Street, and when someone showed up at his doorstep at 2 a.m., he'd take them in, then call Harrigan in the morning to see if PERC had space.

"Gary Kugler was a true humanitarian. He really believed in people," Harrigan said. "The door was always open. He'd never turn anyone away."

Kugler had been the pastor at St. John Lutheran Church since 1966, after graduating from The Lutheran Seminary of Philadelphia, according to his obituary. He started the city's homeless shelter as well as a pre-natal clinic in the church.

Roxanne Cintron-Patterson, a former volunteer at the homeless shelter, said Kugler visited her sister in the hospital three times a week before she died last year of cancer. At the time, Kugler was himself undergoing chemotherapy.

"He helped so many people," she said. "He was just so kind to my sister. He's just an amazing person."

Her husband, Richard Patterson, said he met Kugler when he was the pastor at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Weehawken. Patterson said Kugler attended one of his masses, and the two were fast friends. He recalled volunteering at the Union City shelter and offering Kugler some of the dinner the volunteers had made for the shelter residents. The pastor, however, refused to take away from anyone at the shelter.

"He just had a jelly sandwich," Patterson said. "He was always thinking of others before himself."

Kugler is survived by his daughters Greta, Christa, Susanna and Joanna. He is also survived by three sisters, Margaret, Eva and Dorothea. A memorial service will be held on Thursday at 7 p.m. at St. John Lutheran Church in Union City.

Kathryn Brenzel may be reached at kbrenzel@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @katiebrenzel. Find NJ.com on Facebook


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