Support Ellen's Children and Honor Her Life & Memory

Dear friends, colleagues, teammates, and community members,

As we mourn the loss of Ellen Bracken, we ask our community to hold her four children close and to help them make their way in the world. Ellen “Matraca” was a committed, devoted mother and Berkeley High School math teacher who loved and cared for countless children. Friends recalled going trick or treating with her kids, and seeing grown up former students at the doorway, who yelled, “Hey that’s, Ms. Bracken, the best math teacher I ever had!” For many years, she also volunteered her time teaching preschoolers capoeira, a Brazilian Martial art, at Casa de Cultura in Berkeley. She was a chatty, bright star in her community, remembered for her constant smile.

Ellen was the primary breadwinner in a household with four children. Now the family needs assistance to help see them through. Gabe, her oldest, just graduated from USF after playing four years of soccer and is embarking on his professional soccer path. Kieran is at UC Berkeley playing on the soccer team. Emilio is also a freshman at UC Berkeley thinking of majoring in Data Science and is a force in gymnastics. The youngest, Gisele, is in the care of Ellen's sister Maura and brother-in-law Pat in Michigan.

Thanks to those of you who have already contributed to the Meal Train so that Laura “Papagaio” Margulius can continue to give loving care to the boys in her home. There will be other short and long term needs to provide basic necessities as they navigate their future. Any contribution will help Ellen’s children progress on a path of stability, positivity, and love.

Many thanks,

JT, Laura "Papagaio", Leonard, Sam, Chris, BK, and Rodrigo

P.S. Please share. post, and forward this to anyone who would like to support the Bracken Serras.