Linda Wallace Segesman

As each year brings us the changing of seasons and the eternal promise of rebirth, there were many times over the past year where her only answers to our questions concerning her transformation were, “I’m just getting old, so what are the doctors going to do about it,” as if we were the only ones that needed any answers. That was followed up by, “Growing old isn’t for sissies!”

Linda was raised in a no-nonsense household. Born in Davenport, Iowa in 1937, where soon after, she and her parents returned to her mother’s Polish homebase in North Chicago, Illinois. As an only child, and the daughter of Lil and Jimmy Lay, she was placed and pushed into local stardom early on, as one of the principal twirlers in the North Chicago Majorenes, directed by her mother. She remembers being told, “You do it, because you do it!” Well, she did it, and she continued making things happen throughout her life.Upon graduating from Mount Mary College with a B.S in Nutrition, a college buddy introduced her to an opportunity too good to be true - a paid internship! And much to her mother’s protesting, The Army was introduced to Linda. She went from The Dietetic Inter Class of 1960, Brooke Army Medical Center, Ft. Sam Houston to what would become her sole assignment at The Army Medical Specialist Corps, Letterman General Hospital, The Presidio, San Francisco, California, from 1960-1965, moving up to her final position as Chief of the Diet Therapy Branch, Food Service Division, and the rank of Captain.

Here is where the Segesman family began. As the story goes, our father, Larry, a new civilian employee for The US Army Health Services Command, had to come in and give a talk to mom’s employees about managing personal finances. After the presentation, he walked up to mom, and that was that. There was a special spark, as she was fond of saying, and they were married the following year in 1963.

Mom loved her job and loved the Army. She loved to tell us all how she outranked Dad. However, in those days, a pregnancy came with an Honorable Discharge. It was what it was. From that moment on, Retired Captain Segesman applied all of her love for administration and organization to our household. As an outgoing and dynamic wife and mother, she brought so much grace and structure to her children and husband’s lives. As a devout Catholic, our family joined others in building the foundation for St. Mark The Evangelist Catholic Church in the mid -70’s. Going to church on Sunday was important, as was her organized home, which in turn allowed Dad to thrive in his career as the family was moved from place to place: Chicago, Indianapolis, Newport News, Augsburg, Germany, Seoul, Korea, and San Antonio, Texas. Everywhere she was taken, she assumed leadership roles at home, on post, or in local organizations. That was just her thing, because “You do it, because you do it.” She thrived on getting involved.

Her second career arrived in the early 80’s and took us all by storm. Prudential Don Johnson Realtors became her focus over the next twenty years where we were instructed to answer our home phone at night, “Don Johnson Realtors.” She always told us her favorite part was the paperwork. She then went on to do another twenty years with McCormick Realty, where again, more paperwork!

Aside from real estate, she had a real passion and commitment for history and architecture. She found a perfect match with The Conservation Society of San Antonio where she gave many years to volunteering and chairing various committees. She even got Dad involved on that one, and the two of them spent many enjoyable years connecting significantly with their homebase, San Antonio. Again, she loved the paperwork.

As we navigate the rest of our lives without her massive presence, Linda will live on in our words and actions every single day.

Preceded by her parents, Eleanore and Jimmy Lay and husband, Larry. Survived by children, Carla and partner, Mauricio; Matthew and wife, Lila; grandchildren, Morrain (Slava), Arturo (Alexandra), Diego and Lilian. And all the deer in the backyard.

Linda and her family will have a private graveside ceremony with Military Honors at Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery.

You are welcome to honor her beautiful passing with donations to The San Antonio Conservation Society.