Walter O. Seifert

1924 - 2017

Walter O. Seifert died peacefully at home on January 2, 2017 at age 92. He was born in New York City, the son of Oskar and Margarete (Hardtke) Seifert. Walter graduated from Stuyvesant High School at age 16 and attended the City College of New York on a full scholarship. He interrupted his studies in 1944 and enlisted in the US Navy, serving in the Pacific Theater. He was a decorated Navy veteran of World War II and was awarded the Victory, American, and Asiatic Pacific Theatre medals as well as the Combat Action ribbon. After returning to the states, he finished his chemistry degree at CCNY. Early in his career he helped develop the plastic bottle, and then he joined Electric Boat as a research chemist. In 1973, he became an NFPA Certified Marine Chemist, a position which helped protect the safety of EB employees and Navy submariners until his retirement in 1989. In 1950, Walter met Elsie Ost who was from West Hartford. They fell in love and got married in 1951. Walter often said that living with Elsie was one of the highlights of his life and he was very saddened when she predeceased him in 2006. Walter was a member of the First Congregational Church of Old Lyme, the Marine Chemist Association, Post 41 of the American Legion and the Niantic Sportsmen's Club. Past memberships include the Old Lyme Zoning Commission, the Plastics Engineers Society, The American Turners, the Nassau Club of Princeton, and the Thames Club. Walter and his family moved to Old Lyme in 1964. He loved the rural life here especially boating, fishing, and duck hunting. He truly believed that Old Lyme was and is a very special place. He also loved the Phoebe Griffin Noyes Library and participating in veterans' events. Walter is survived by his son, Attorney Conrad Ost Seifert and his wife, Beth Hogan of Niantic; by his daughter, Doctor Christina McLean of Old Lyme and by his three grandchildren, Emily Seifert, Meghan and Michael McLean. The family wishes to thank his caregiver, Patrick Brew, for the excellent care he provided in the final months. In lieu of flowers, it is he requested that a gift in Walter's memory be made to the Old Lyme Congregational Church or to the Phoebe Griffin Noyes Library. Friends are invited to the wake which will be held at Byles- MacDougall Funeral Home, 99 Huntington St in New London on Friday, January 13, 2017 from 4-6 PM, and to a memorial service at the First Congregational Church at 2 Ferry Road, Old Lyme, on Saturday, January 14, 2017 at 2 pm. Please visit www.byles.com for directions, to sign his guest book or to share a memory with his family.