William Selzer

Mr. William Ephraim Selzer, 82, of Tampa, Fla., and formerly of Frederick, died Thursday, June 4, 2009, in Tampa. He was the husband of the late Frances Selzer, daughter of the late Maurice and Freda Sclar.

Born Jan. 4, 1927, in Troy, N.Y., he was the son of the late Dr. Julius Louis Selzer and Gertrude Schneider of Troy.

Mr. Selzer graduated from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, with an aeronautical engineering and math degree in 1946. He then went to work for Fairchild Aircraft in Hagerstown. In the 1950s he worked for the City of Frederick Engineering Office as a civil engineer; he then worked with Uni-Science under J.V. Atanasoff (one of the pioneers of digital computers) as a senior systems engineer. The company later became Aerojet General and then Industrial Systems Inc., from which he retired.

He was an avid bridge player all his life and a certified bridge tournament master. He often combined his love of cruising with bridge, where he would conduct bridge games and give lessons to passengers. He was a member of Beth Sholom Congregation and worked on the committee that designed their new worship center on North Market Street, before relocating to Florida.

He is survived by his children, Julius Selzer of Frederick, Ben Selzer and wife, Mary, of Severna Park, Rebecca Comstock and husband, Dave, of Frederick, Miriam Selzer and partner, Audrey House, of Tampa, Fla., and Maurice Selzer of Hagerstown; grandchildren, Jonathan Selzer and wife, Donna, of Pinson, Ala., Kathy Turner and husband, Eric, of Birmingham, Ala., Jacob Selzer and wife, Tamara, of South Carolina, Brian Selzer and wife, Jamie, of Severna Park, Chris Selzer and wife, Amy, of Rhode Island, Erin Comstock of Baltimore and Ryan Comstock and Caitland Comstock, both of Frederick; 14 great-grandchildren; and his brother, Dr. Richard Selzer and wife, Janet, of New Haven, Conn. Many nieces and nephews also survive.

Graveside services will be held at 1 p.m., Sunday, June 7, at Resthaven Memorial Garden, Frederick. Rabbi Morris Kosman will officiate.

Online condolences may be expressed to the family at StaufferFuneralHome.com.

Arrangements are by Stauffer Funeral Home, Frederick.