Judith Lois Selzer

Judy Selzer slipped away peacefully in the company of loved ones at Hartford Hospital on April 8, 2023.

Judith Lois Selzer was born in Pittsfield, Massachusetts to Herman Zommick and Rhoda Caplowitz Zommick. The family moved to New Haven where Judy and her brother Larry grew up and where Judy met her lifelong friend, Carol Levinson Novick. Judy was a very active and sociable youngster. She graduated from Hillhouse High School in New Haven. (Recently, after decades, she renewed some of those high school friendships via zoom.).

Judy loved children She became an elementary school teacher , receiving her bachelor's degree in education at UConn and a masters degree in reading education from NYU. She taught in schools in New York, Maryland and Connecticut, the last at Bugbe School in West Hartford. Early in her career she was selected as the outstanding teacher of the year in Westchester County. Later in life she enjoyed teaching and reading to the children of friends and relatives, sometimes via zoom.

Judy met the love of her life , Jerry Selzer, at a wedding of mutual friends. They were seated next to one another . For Jerry it was love at first sight. Judy, however, often reminded him "you know, there was also this other cute guy on my other side…….…"

A year later they were married and spent their first two years in Southern Maryland, where Jerry served as a physician at a Naval Hospital. There he established a psychiatric clinic for military personnel and their families. Following military service they returned to New York, where Jerry completed his psychiatric training.

They moved to the Hartford area where Jerry set up his private practice. They were married 52 years.

Jerry and Judy had one child, a beautiful daughter, Amy, also a teacher, who tragically died at age 30.

Judy was a very brave woman who dealt with losses and serious health problems for many many years. Friends called her their "hero" , her brother Larry's kids called her "energizer bunny" for her ability to bounce back from adversity with grace and dignity. She liked to boast , and perhaps it's true, that she was the longest surviving kidney transplant patient at Hartford Hospital.

Judy loved long walks with Jerry; she was also an avid swimmer. On their first real date in New York City she challenged Jerry to a race: it was a very close finish. She loved reading and over the years was a member of several reading groups. She enjoyed dining out (though she was a good cook!). She and Jerry loved theater, movies and concerts and spending time with good friends. They traveled a lot together including the Caribbean, Europe , Alaska and trips to family in the Seattle area for Thanksgiving holidays. And she loved the UConn Women's Basketball team!

With a group of close friends twenty five years ago she formed a Bible study group. It was a source of intellectual stimulation and, more importantly, it provided emotional support for all members. The group is still ongoing.

Judy made and kept friendships easily and the couple was blessed with a lot of supportive friends. So many along with Jerry, will mourn her loss.

She will be missed by relatives including her brother, Larry, his wife Marilyn and their children, Rachel Lowinger, her husband Brian and their son, Chance, and Hannah Rosenberger and Hannah's husband Itai, all in the Seattle area. Larry's son Daniel lives in the Chicago area with his wife Alyssa and their children Jonah and Ellie. Judy also loved and was loved by Jerry's family, his brother Mickey, wife Mary and Mickey's daughter, Molly, her husband Jason Lorber and their son Theo, and Mickey's sons CJ and Nate.

Jerry would like to thank Marge Clarke, Debra Stephenson, Marion Strickland and Heather Baugh for their loving care for Judy. And Jerry wants friends to know how much he and Judy appreciated the support they have received.

Funeral services will be held at Congregation Beth Israel, 701 Farmington Ave, West Hartford at 10:30 AM, Friday, April 14th. For zoom information , see the Cong. Beth Israel website.

Donations may be made to the Amy Selzer Fund at the Jewish Community Foundation, 333 Bloomfield Ave., West Hartford, CT 06117