Eugene Gollogly
At turns dynamic, enigmatic, amusing, humble, serene, warm, wise, alive - these words are just a stumbling beginning of a description of Gene Gollogly.
He began this life on October 4, 1950, as the fourth of eight siblings in the village of Guisborough on the edge of the North Yorkshire Moors (UK), nearby the ruins of the Augustinian Priory of St. Mary (1119), which may well have awoken a memory of monastic spirituality within him.
From Yorkshire to New York
His discovery of anthroposophy and the work of Rudolf Steiner happened at a relatively young age. After his studies at the London School of Economics, he sought a place to offer service as a volunteer and chanced upon the Camphill Community of Botton Village. At that time he recently lost his mother. He was cared for at Botton, and the people he would meet there, such as Brian Rée, played a big role in Gene’s life story. It was here he first encountered the biodynamic agriculture, and here he met the writer, researcher, and editor of Rudolf Steiner’s works in English, Paul Marshall Allen and his wife Joan Allen.
Paul Marshall Allen provided the connection to Bernard Garber of Blauvelt, New York, real estate man and publisher. This was the beginning of Gene’s lifelong connection with and love of the business of publishing.
Requiring at a certain point, better wages for his work, Gene left Mr. Garber (on very good terms) and entered the world of New York City publishing where he spent the next decades of his life working for various publishing houses. Later he met his future business partner, Martin Rowe, with whom he co-founded Lantern Books, in 1999.
Anthroposophic Press
Not long after the turn of the century, Gene, who was already on the board of the Anthroposophic Press, took on the additional role of President and CEO of this non-profit corporation. He had, in a way, come full circle back to anthroposophical publishing. He has initiated the annual Spiritual Science Research Seminars at NYU, bringing the name SteinerBooks to bear on the company (retired in 2018, but still involved in an advisory capacity), and beginning his tireless travels.
Most recently, and perhaps presciently, Gene had taken an interest in “Sacred Undertaking,” the art and practical skill of caring for the dead holistically and at home. He assisted in a home funeral and carried the coffin of an acquaintance the day before he himself died.
Gene, as is well known, was the proud father of four grown children and a world traveler with an unrivaled endurance for the road, the plane, the train, the car. He was never one to linger. His, to us, hasty and decisive exit from this mortal coil was, in its way, thoroughly characteristic.
With assistance from Christopher Bamford.