Linda Segal-Crawley

Linda Segal-Crawley, 87, of Manhattan, passed away on May 2, 2024 after being diagnosed with multiple myeloma a year ago. In the days preceding her passing, she was surrounded by family and friends. Linda was raised in Davenport, Iowa, Denver, Colorado, and Beverly Hills, California. After graduating from high school, she headed east to attend Emerson College. She earned her MFA at Brandeis University, where she studied playwriting. New York City was her adopted home, and she became an ardent New Yorker. She also loved Paris and lived there for awhile in her 30s.

Linda's career as an actor and playwright was marked by her presence on various stages, including the Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, the Hartford Stage Company, the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center, the Second City, and the Goodman Theater. Her plays, described as "comedic cautionary stories," were produced in numerous off-Broadway and experimental theaters in New York, such as the Actor's Studio, American Kaleidoscope, and the Lincoln Center Library. Her writing was not all comedic, though. In her later work, she wrote powerfully of longing and loss. Linda was a longstanding member of Workshop Theater and ShopTalk. She received the prestigious Tanne Foundation award for outstanding achievement in the arts.

In addition to her writing career, Linda was a devoted teacher of English as a Second Language, impacting the lives of many students with her passion for language and communication.

Outside of her professional life, Linda had a deep love for animals, from the doves nesting outside her window to her cherished cats. She also had a passion for watching and discussing movies, showcasing her incredible memory for details about films and actors.

She loved to engage in meaningful conversations with friends, exploring life's deep questions as well as politics and art. Linda's joie de vivre and wonderful sense of humor made her a delight to be around. She was known for her caring nature, her passion for justice, her wide-ranging intelligence, and a sense of adventure.

Linda Segal-Crawley is survived by her niece, Jennifer Markell, her nephew-in-law Jay Rosenberg, cousins Emmy and Alexa Hunter, and many loving friends. She was preceded in death by her sister, Julie Freeman, and by her beloved husband, Tom Crawley.

Linda's legacy as a talented artist and compassionate individual will be remembered by all who had the privilege of knowing her.

Donations in Linda's honor can be made to the ASPCA and the Humane Society of the United States.