Selma Miriam

1935 - 2025

Selma Miriam
Selma Miriam, radical feminist and founder of Bloodroot Vegetarian Restaurant and Feminist Bookstore, passed away peacefully on February 6, 2025, at her home in Westport, Connecticut.
Born on February 25, 1935, in Bridgeport, Connecticut, Selma was the daughter of Elias Davidson, owner of Davidson's Fabrics, and Faye Davidson. She attended Bassick High School before enrolling at Tufts University's Jackson College, where she graduated Phi Beta Kappa in 1956 with degrees in biology and psychology. Despite her academic achievements, she often remarked that the best thing she learned in college was how to knit European style.
Selma married Abe Bunks, and together they moved to Westport, where they raised their two children, Carey and Sabrina. She became a dedicated advocate for social justice, spearheading Project Concern, an anti-racism busing initiative. She was active in the League of Women Voters and helped establish the local chapter of the National Organization for Women (NOW) alongside Priscilla Feral and others. A fierce feminist, she led the planning of a controversial anti-pornography rally on Jessup Green and remained at the forefront of radical feminist thought and action.
In March 1977, Selma co-founded Bloodroot, a restaurant and bookstore that embodied her feminist values. She explored and created recipes inspired by global cuisines, delighting customers with dishes that resonated with their cultural heritage. Bloodroot became a gathering place for feminist luminaries, including Audre Lorde, Adrienne Rich, Mary Daly, and Andrea Dworkin.
Beyond her activism and culinary pursuits, Selma was an avid gardener, fiber artist, and traveler. She designed gardens, hunted mushrooms with the Connecticut Mycological Association, and was a member of the Weaver's Guild of Connecticut. Her travels took her across the world-from Papua New Guinea in search of orchids to India, Italy, Turkey, and Canada-always with a focus on fiber arts and food.
Selma is survived by her former husband, Abe Bunks; her children, Carey and Sabrina; her companion and partner, Carolanne Curry; and her longtime friend and business partner, Noel Furie.
A celebration of Selma's life will be held on March 9 at 6:00 p.m. at the United Congregational Church in Bridgeport, Connecticut. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to MADRE (madre.org) or Mercy Learning Center (mercylearningcenter.org).