Rhea Seldin, 89, passed away peacefully on August 17, 2020. She was born in the Bronx in 1931. Her parents were Jewish immigrants from the Pale of Settlement. Her father was a chemist and inventor, and his work took them from New York City to the town of Gloucester, Massachusetts, then ultimately to Milwaukee, Wisconsin as a teen. She often looked back fondly on her time in Gloucester living on the Birdseye estate where her father worked with Clarence Birdseye, inventor of the frozen seafood process.
She went on to graduate from the University of Wisconsin with a degree in speech therapy and worked with children for years. She met her husband, Judd Seldin, in Madison, and they were married immediately after her graduation. Rhea and Judd moved first to Buffalo, New York, where Judd completed his PhD, and then to Cleveland, Ohio, where they settled. They had two sons, David and John, and established deep roots in their community, especially their synagogue. Their marriage endured for fifty years as their sons grew, married and had children of their own.
Despite being legally blind, Rhea loved to read, and always had a supply of large-print newspapers, along with stacks of books on tape. She closely followed the news, and the TV was tuned to it morning, evening and night. She had an innate intellectual curiosity as well, enrolling in adult education courses at every opportunity. She also enjoyed attending concerts at the Cleveland Symphony Orchestra with her close-knit group of friends.
Shortly after their fiftieth anniversary in 2002, Judd died. In time Rhea started a new relationship with Erv Lezberg, a longtime friend who had recently lost his spouse as well. Rhea and Erv quickly grew close, and each found new love. In 2007 they decided to relocate to Ann Arbor, Michigan to be closer to some of their children. They bought a home and created a new life there, joining the Jewish Cultural Society, attending classes and concerts, and spending time with family.
Rhea is preceded in death by her husband, Judd Seldin. She is survived by her two sons and their wives, David Seldin & Cathryn Stein and John & Judy Seldin, her granddaughters Miriam Seldin-Stein and Ava Seldin, and her companion Erv Lezberg. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her name to the Cleveland Beth Israel (The West Temple) General Fund (https://thewesttemple.com/online-donation/) or the National Library Service (https://www.loc.gov/nls/about/support-nls/).
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