Bovina - BOVINA - Augustus "Gus" Lightheart passed away peacefully in the presence of his devoted students and friends on Aug. 12, 2022, following a short illness. Born as Jack Tannenbaum on Aug. 18, 1936, Gus was raised in Queens.

Gus lived a life a Hollywood producer would say is too unbelievable and unpredictable to be made into a movie. He served his country in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Korean War era and subsequently worked as a precision glass blower, auctioneer, jewelry maker, electrician, handyman, amateur engineer, and chauffeur, in addition to launching a satellite television company.

Perhaps in stark contrast, Gus was also a devoted student of distinguished Tibetan Buddhist teachers and esoteric teachings, and became a master meditation and yoga teacher himself as a co-founder and, at the time of his passing, president of the American Yoga Foundation in Bovina Center.

Gus unapologetically lived life fully, on his own unique terms. In whatever he was doing, whether operating his beloved backhoe or instructing students on meditation, Gus embodied Warmth, Openness, Generosity, Humor, Selflessness, Skillfulness, and Awareness. His curiosity and eclectic existence were accompanied by a steady countenance and frequent laughter. To know him was to know oneself in humor and in kindness.

Through his actions, awareness, and unceasing work on himself and with his students over the past 50+ years, Gus leaves in his wake a legacy of people whose minds and hearts he touched and whose tensions he relieved.

Gus lived most of his adult life in the Catskill Mountains of New York State, where late in life, he spent 15 "indescribable" years with his loving partner, Dana Perkus. He is survived by his sister, Lynn Tannenbaum; and stepdaughter, Shauna Barnum-Ray.

Although Gus will be missed, more importantly, his unique energy and perspective will live on through his loving students and the work of the Foundation.

In his memory and in lieu of flowers, Gus wished for donations to be made to the Foundation for the Study of American Yoga.

A memorial service will be held in Gus's honor at 11 a.m., Sunday, Oct. 2, at the Foundation, 1977 Jim Lane Road, Bovina Center, NY 13740.