Michael Goodman says sorry to mugging victim Claude Soffel 35 years later

IT was an apology for a man who mugged a stranger 35 years ago. He finally got to say sorry after recognising his victim on Facebook.

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IT was a heartfelt, if belated, apology.

A man who mugged a stranger on the steps of the American Museum of Natural History 35 years ago finally got to say sorry after recognising his victim on a random Facebook post.

Michael Goodman, 53, says he was a teenager when he held up Claude Soffel, 52, for his bus pass in the late 1970s — an incident that haunted him throughout his life, the New York Post reported.

Decades later, he spotted Soffel's name in a Facebook post about shuttered shop H&H Bagels. He knew writing in the comments section was his chance to finally seek forgiveness.

"You may not remember this … but a long, long time ago I walked up the steps of [the museum] one afternoon, trying to look like a tough guy," Goodman posted on November 19.

"I have never forgotten the incident or your name … then here I am … reading about my favorite bagel store in the world closing down, and [whose] name do I see but yours," Goodman wrote in the Facebook group NYC West 89th Street Soldiers & Sailors Monument Alumni – 1970's.

"Finally I can say — I'M VERY SORRY that you had to go through that crap that day long ago."
Soffel, now a life coach in Sag Harbor, remembered the teenage mugger and accepted his apology.

"Clearly you're a 'bigger man' today," Soffel responded in the comments section. "Memory is a funny thing. I recognize your name now as well."

Soffel runs a business called the Braveheart Institute, where he coaches men on developing their fathering skills. He could not be reached for comment.

"Any man who draws a line for himself [and says] 'Today I step forward for myself, my family, and humanity' is a hero to me," Soffel wrote. "So let us now, jointly, put this in its proper place, behind us."

Goodman, who now who lives in Hawaii with his 13-year-old son, told The Post he mugged Soffel to impress a classmate who didn't believe he was in a graffiti gang.

"I went up to [Soffel] and said, 'Where's your bus pass?' The cops immediately pulled out badges and arrested me," said Goodman, who owned a carpet-cleaning business until injuring his back. "I told this story throughout my life. I felt so bad about it."

The one-time mugger is the son of famous astrologer Linda Goodman and Sam O. Goodman, who worked in radio.

He was put in handcuffs by plainclothes detectives and taken to the 20th precinct, where he sat for about an hour until his father picked him up.

Goodman says he never forgot Soffel's name as his case wound through the courts. He was eventually sentenced to three weeks of community service: cleaning up graffiti on the subway.

Goodman tried to make up for the bad karma by doing good deeds during his next 20 years in New York.

While working as a doorman, Goodman captured a brute who tried to attack a woman near the building. He said he received a thank-you note from former Mayor David Dinkins for his bravery.

But nothing compares to this belated apology, he said.

"A very large weight has been lifted off my shoulder," Goodman said. “I feel peace and dare I say joy. I'm even happier this is bringing joy to other people."