Selig Keitz

Selig Keitz, 85, of Cary, North Carolina passed away peacefully in Durham, NC on January 31st, 2022. He was born in the Bronx in 1936 to Tom and Bess Keitz, the second of four children. Selig served in the United States Army as a medic in the US Army Hospital in Landstuhl, Germany before receiving an honorable discharge in 1955.

Originally a fan of the Brooklyn Dodgers, Selig became a Yankee fan to the end of his life following the Dodger’s move to the West Coast. He was an amateur boxer in the welterweight division. Among his boxing successes was convincing his reluctant mother to attend one of his matches. He was a talented golfer and enjoyed the Masters. Professional football also consumed his interest. He had a passion for chess and enthusiastically taught his children and even some grandchildren to play.

Professionally, Selig worked with his father and brothers in a family owned business which operated for 60 years doing precision manufacturing of aeronautic and computer parts. He was self- educated and took pride in the fact that he also worked as the youngest arbitrator for the New York Stock Exchange and followed the stock market with avid interest.

Selig married Florence Wagner, daughter of Fay and Aaron Wagner of the Bronx, in 1957. Together they had four children. Selig also had two stepchildren from his second marriage in 1985 to Barbara Hoole. Having moved from New York to Flat Rock, North Carolina, he and his wife loved being away from the Belt Parkway and the LIE, in the fresh air and near the mountains for 3 decades with their menagerie of shelter dogs and cats. Worsening health issues in both necessitated a move from Flat Rock to Durham to be closer to Selig’s son and his family who dedicated the last several years to help care for them.

Selig is survived by sister Linda (Robert), brother Mitch, children Jodi (Barry), Lori (Bob), Sheri (Paul), Allen (Michelle), stepchildren Rob (Nancy), Karen (Bill) , 17 grandchildren, a one year old great granddaughter and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.

A graveside funeral and burial was held at Beth Moses Cemetery, Long Island, NY on February 6th. In lieu of flowers, kindly consider making a donation in Selig’s memory to: Peak Lab Rescue/Dog Rescue NC (peaklabrescue.com)