SELTZER, BERNARD, 88, of Aventura, Florida, passed away September 27, 2009. He was born on July 22, 1921 in Hartford, Connecticut. He attended New York University and the University of North Carolina. He served as a captain in the U.S. Army Air Force as a B29 bombardier during World War II. During the war he married Lillian Worshoufsky, and settled in West Hartford, Connecticut to raise his family. For the next 60 years, he became an icon in the cigar tobacco industry, first working with his father Isidore and his brother Milton to grow the finest Connecticut broadleaf shade tobacco wrapper before becoming executive vice president / tobacco and manufacturing for Bayuk Cigars. After moving to South Florida in 1976, he served as a consultant for Consolidated cigars, flying each week to either Santo Domingo or Puerto Rico to oversee the manufacturing of cigars. He retired at the age of 85. "Bernie was the total cigar man and well known throughout the world of tobacco," according to Theo Folz, the president/CEO of Altadis, U.S.A., and associate of Bernie's for over twenty years. He enjoyed the simple pleasures: he loved sports, especially baseball and was an avid reader. In his earlier years, he was known for having the earliest t-time playing golf. One of his proudest achievements was his 3 holes-in- one. He had simple values: Integrity, Responsibility, selflessness, Fortitude, Commitment, Honor, Strength, Generosity, and truth. Above all, he was devoted to his wife and to his family. He led an exemplary life. He will be deeply missed by his wife of 64 years Lillian Seltzer; his children Ina Lee, Sharon Zalkin and Richard Seltzer; his sons-in- law Howard Zalkin and Gary Foster; his daughter-in-law Grace Lopes; his grandchildren Adam and Noah Lee, Miles and John Zalkin, Michael and Mathew Seltzer and his great-granddaughter Jaedyn Lee. A memorial service will be held at Riverside Gordon Memorial Chapels in Aventura, Wednesday September 30th at 4 PM. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to charity of your choice. To visit this Guest Book Online, go to www.MiamiHerald.com/obituaries.
