Judith Seelig

1950 - 2023

Judith (Fuhring) Seelig

Amherst, MA - Judith (Fuhring) Seelig passed away peacefully at Cooley Dickinson Hospital on October 21, 2023 after a brief illness. She was surrounded by friends and family with music and stories prior to her passing. Judith was born in New York City in 1950 to Beatrice and Robert Fuhring, both now deceased. She is survived by her sister, Jane Fuhring, and Jane's partner, Roger Edes, her close friends, Richard Seelig, and his wife, Diane Gray and Erin Cotter Davis.

Judith studied photography at Philadelphia College of Art. She later studied writing and received her bachelor's degree from Sarah Lawrence College. She found and nourished lifelong friendships with Kathryn Weill, Marcy Meritz and Charlotte Booth from these experiences.

Judith had a varied career in publishing. She was the Art Editor of the Cape Codder newspaper in the1980s. In the 1990s, she worked as a graphic artist at Houghton Mifflin Company in Boston. In 1997, Judith moved to Western Massachusetts and became Library Director at M.N. Spear Memorial Library in Shutesbury. Among other projects, she initiated the youth volunteer program which continues to this day. She made a lifelong friend, Siviva Levana, who was an early participant in the program. Judith also spearheaded the library's expansion which has evolved into plans for a new library in Shutesbury.

In recent years, Judith was very active at the Pelham Public Library and later at the Jones Public library in Amherst. She had various roles in both, including being a board member and on an advisory board, respectively. She was active in CISA (Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture): working on local farm and food supply issues. She was committed to both local and state politics. She had a particular interest in promoting representation of women in politics. Judith was involved with The League of Women Voters and she was also an avid supporter of Planned Parenthood. She was a supporter of local artists and was active in the Amherst Plein Air Society.

Judith was adventurous and traveled throughout her life. She combined this with her love of great food, art, and her pursuit of painting. Her journeys included frequenting the Caribbean and Mount Desert Island in Maine with close friends Charlotte and Michael Booth; the Southwest with friends including Ken and Janet Palin, and Kate Spencer; Jamaica, with her then-husband Richard; Cuba and France with her friend Kate.

A friend recalled Judith as having: "Self confidence and exuberance; high energy, enthusiastic, easy laughter, a giant grin. But also a sharp and (occasionally) dark sense of humor."

Judith was a passionate supporter of public libraries. In remembrance, donations may be made to Friends of the Jones Library in Amherst, M.N. Spear Memorial Library (both to their building funds), the Pelham Library, or to your local library.

A celebration of life will be held in May. Details will be announced in the spring on the website of the Williamsburg Funeral Home. To share memories and stay up to date on the celebration, find In Remembrance of Judith F Seelig on Facebook.