Michael Perzel has an award-winning writer friend named Rick Mowat, and the topic of Perzel’s childhood antics came up in conversation.
Mowat asked Perzel to write down some of those memories and liked what he saw.
“We’ve got a book here,” Mowat said.
The book, Livin’ It, was published on June 27. It’s described as, “The true story of a bad kid from Philly who defies the odds.”
“It was difficult writing it,” Perzel said. “It brought me to tears more than once.”
Perzel, now 69, was the youngest of four boys. He lived the first four years of his life in the Abbotsford Homes housing project in East Falls before the family moved to Mayfair, specifically 3430 Bleigh Ave.
Later in life, Perzel became a successful insurance broker, with an office at 7338 Frankford Ave.
The book chronicles Perzel’s life from ages 11-19, from the late 1960s to the mid-1970s. While names were changed, Perzel said every story in the book is true.
“I let it all go,” he said.
In general, young Michael was not a fan of authority, whether it was cops, nuns or his baseball coach for the Mayfair Red Devils.
In those years, Michael hung out with a lot of kids who did things even worse than he did and who probably could write their own books – if most of them weren’t already dead, due to a variety of causes.
In Michael’s case, he did his first drug and had his first drink and encounter with the law at a very young age. There were burglaries of pharmacies, department stores and a barber shop. Not much was sacred, from school candy money to suitcases, which resulted in an arrest while he was wearing his St. Matt’s uniform. While at Lincoln High School, he and friends were arrested in a drug caper and had their names printed in the Bulletin, Inquirer and Daily News.
The book includes some personal family information related to abortion, the Vietnam War and one of his aunts calling another a vulgar name.
Finally, the thought of a prison sentence on charges stemming from an attempted burglary led him to stop dealing drugs and committing other crimes.
Perzel said he had no thoughts of writing a book while his mom was alive or while he was still in business, but now believes he can reach young people who grew up the way he did.
“It’s not the end of the world,” he said. “You can make something of yourself.”
The book has received more than 50 five-star reviews on Amazon.
One wrote, “I highly recommend this to anyone who appreciates the ‘real thing,’ and not a glossed-over, politically correct recollection of half-made-up ‘war’ stories. This guy was actually ‘Livin’ It.’ “
Another wrote, “Such a great read with fascinating stories of growing up in Mayfair. Outstanding job, Mike! Is a movie next?”
Well?
“That would be the ultimate goal,” Perzel said of a possible film based on the book.
For now, Perzel will be doing an audio version of the book. He’s invested money and will be executive producer on a feature film, written and directed by Mowat, called Last Pint, about the largest bank robbery in Ireland history.
As for another book, he’d like to team with Mowat on some kind of Philadelphia-based story.
Otherwise, he’s enjoying life. He retired in 2022 at age 66. He and his wife Annette (they’ll be married 33 years in September) live in Churchville and have a home in North Fort Myers, Florida. He enjoys traveling, woodworking and playing golf.
Over the years, he’s helped raise more than $300,000 for underprivileged kids, primarily through Optimist Club of Philadelphia and Susan’s Charity for Children (named in memory of his mom).
Perzel believes the money raised has made a difference. He recalls receiving a thank-you letter from a college student who had made the dean’s list after being granted $1,000 to buy books.
“It was really nice,” Perzel said of the letter, “and it happens all the time.”
Locally, he donates to a St. Matthew School scholarship fund and the Mayfair-Holmesburg Thanksgiving Parade. His charity work also helps needy students at New Foundations, St. Matt’s, St. Jerome, St. Hubert and Father Judge with Christmas dinners and gifts and other assistance.
As the book cover says, Perzel defied the odds to be a success in business, have a fulfilling retirement and do a lot of good deeds along the way.
“I think I’ve given back to the little section of the city I terrorized as a kid,” he said. ••
Livin’ It, by Michael Perzel and Rick Mowat, is available on Amazon in paperback and ebook. Buy it at https://shorturl.at/UyTxN
