SARATOGA SPRINGS — Gerald "Gerry" Selig, 92, passed away at Hospice by the Sea in Boca Raton, Florida on June 7.
Born on May 27, 1922, he was the son of the late Freda and Charles Zelikofsky. He attended the University of Illinois and enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Force in 1942. During his service in the Air Force, he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant and flew missions over the European theatre as a Bombardier Navigator when he was shot down and taken prisoner in Germany for a period of three weeks. He received the Purple Heart for his service to his country.
When he returned home to Saratoga, after his discharge, he met and married Evalyn Britt, who was the mother of his two children, Susan and Joanne, and they were married for 35 years.
He then joined his father in the scrap metal business, Spa Waste Company, which in later years became Spa Steel Products Co., Inc., and celebrated over 50 years of prosperous business.
Gerald was devoted to his synagogue and to his beloved community of Saratoga Springs. He served as President of Congregation Shaari Tfille, and he was on the Board of Directors of Saratoga Hospital. He was a long time member of McGregor Links Country Club and the Saratoga Golf and Polo Club and a ski instructor at West Mountain. His greatest hours of pleasure and recreation were spent on his boat, the “Unicorn,” on Lake George and later in the ocean off of Ft. Lauderdale. But above all, his family was the center of his life.
In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his sister, Selma Berkowitz.
Survivors include his beloved wife of 30 years, Christa; his daughters, Susan Edwards (Robert) and Joanne Dwornik (Jim); sister, Bobbie Rapp (Frank); stepsons, Keith Ackerman (Lisa) and Craig Ackerman (Ivy); seven grandchildren, David Edwards (Robin), Sara Hills (Adam), Jeffrey Dwornik, Carrie Ellis (Jason), Chad, Spencer and Jeremy Ackerman; and seven great grandchildren, Ellie, Carter, Tucker, Jake, Natalie, Judah and Benjamin.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m., Wednesday June 11 at Congregation Shaari Tfille, 84 Weibel Avenue, Saratoga Springs.
Burial with military honors will follow in the Jewish Community Cemetery.
Arrangements are under the direction of William J. Burke & Sons/Bussing & Cuniff Funeral Home, 628 N. Broadway, Saratoga Springs.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Jewish Community Center, 84 Weibel Avenue, Saratoga Springs, New York 12866 or Hospice by the Sea, 1531 W. Palmetto Park Road, Boca Raton, Florida 33486 (561) 395-5031.
Online remembrances may be made at www.burkefuneralhome.com
