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About Us
A Night on Buddy’s Bench emerged from our family experience with death. Within a period of a few months, we lost Esther, my highly functional ninety-three-year-old mom; Rose, our adorable three-year-old cousin; and our very vital seventy-eight-year-old Aunt Kay. We were fortunate to be supported by wonderful Hospice caregivers, who helped us begin to let go of fear and learn instead to be present to our loved ones’ end of-life journeys.
Bringing Buddy’s Bench to fruition became a family healing process. My wife, Nadine, became the editor and chief supporter. Her mom, Ann Trombly, agreed to be the illustrator and created the pictures to go with the story. My cousin, playwright and filmmaker Sharon Cooper, produced and directed the audio version of the book, read by actor Anthony Lopez, with an original sound and music score by Nick T. Moore.
About the book
Ira Baumgarten is a senior trainer for the National Coalition Building Institute who has worked in the Adult Education field for forty years. A trained Hospice volunteer, he now donates his time and books in conducting in service education for Hospice Organizations. Ira has a Master’s Degree in Adult Education and a Certificate in Gerontology from Syracuse University. Ira and his wife, Nadine, are annual visitors to the islands of Maine.
About the Author
Ann Bonville Trombly was a self-taught artist and craft maker. She loved to walk and swim in
the ocean. Following the death of her husband of 46 years, Ann completed the Bereavement
Certification Program at Maria College. This, coupled with her loss, opened her to a greater
understanding of the grief process.
About the Illustrator
Ann and Ira at the book launch event for A Night on Buddy's Bench
Donations
All profits from A Night on Buddy’s Bench are donated to Hospice and other non-for-profit organizations.
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