B. Segall

B Segall passed away peacefully on November 3, 2007 following a long illness and a final visit with his two children and their three dogs. Bernard Segall, Jr., known to one and all as “B,” was born September 29, 1919 in Beaumont, Texas. Having bestowed the honor and prestige of being born a Texan upon him, his parents promptly moved him across the Sabine River to Shreveport, Louisiana where he attended public school and indulged in endless mischief with neighbor Russell. Upon high school graduation, B departed for Georgia Tech, outraging Russell’s daddy and LSU benefactor, Governor “Mr. Huey” Long. After four years as a Ramblin’ Wreck, B emerged with a degree in mechanical engineering and a commission in the Army Air Corps. The military decided to make a glider pilot of him, then promoted B to fixed-wing multi-engine warbirds. He had a C-47 that he raced around North Africa, Italy and France, sampling wine and native cuisine while diligently pursuing the defeat of the forces of the Rome-Berlin Axis. B closed out his military service by “liberating” twenty-five Triumph motorcycles from the British Army. The prank cost him a promotion, but provided Captain Segall’s buddies with one heck of a ride back home. After VE-Day, B returned to work in the family business in Shreveport, but his thoughts remained constantly with a California girl, also a pilot, who had stolen his heart in 1941. Muriel (Mimi) Lindstrom was a W.A.S.P. and USC graduate whom he had courted long distance since their first date. He was determined to make her his wife. In May of 1950, B and Mimi at last married and he brought her home to Shreveport. From there, B took his L.A. “big city” bride to tiny Camden, Arkansas, then to Denver, Dallas, and finally to Austin, where the couple made their permanent home on Lake Austin. B worked hard and played even harder. He and his adventurous Mimi, often with children in tow, sailed the Caribbean, took primitive mountain horseback trips in search of the perfect trout stream and explored the ruins in the Yucatan Peninsula. On any given day, one might find B herding cattle in Spicewood, piloting his Cessna 180 “Charlie,” hunting mule deer on horseback, casting a fly rod at Pearl Lakes, on the golf course or at the card table with good friends at ACC, or even fighting a bull after being slightly over-served on Portuguese vino. His finest hours, however, were spent with Mimi in their yard on the lake, relaxing, sailing, skiing and enjoying the company of family, dogs and good friends. When B arrived in Austin, the city had a single engineering firm. B’s soon became the dominant firm and he formed an ASHRAE chapter, becoming its first president. Some of B’s marquee design jobs included: Austin, Westlake and Lanier High Schools, Hancock Center, Highland Mall, Medical Park Tower, Bailey Square and Doctors’ Building, Adam’s Extract, Welch Chemistry Hall and extensive utility tunnels at UT Austin, the first central energy plants at UT Dallas, San Antonio and Permian Basin, the American Embassy and La Commercial (the first centrally air-conditioned building in Mexico City) and IBM/Madrid. Upon “retiring,” B continued to consult with friends in the HVAC business and served as an expert witness in highly select personal injury cases. B is predeceased by his beloved wife, Mimi, and his parents, Bernard “Big B” and Bertha Segall and brother Ralph Segall of Shreveport, Louisiana. He is survived by his son, Lynn “Lindy” Segall of Hye, Texas, daughter Michelle Segall Bassett of Austin, and his most challenging gin rummy opponent, granddaughter Caroline Bassett, also of Austin. Additionally, extended family members of whom he was most fond survive him. The family wishes to thank the many compassionate individuals who assisted in B’s care during his illness, including Cheryl Fischer, Barbara Merritt, Dr. Michael Pellegrini, Marsha Sebesta and the staff of Buckner Villas. Visitation will be held Tuesday, November 6, 2007, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Weed Corley-Fish Funeral Home, 3125 N. Lamar Blvd. Services will be private. In lieu of flowers, those wishing to do so may send a contribution to Children’s Hearing Aid Texas (CHAT), 3801 N. Capital of Texas Hwy. E240-131, Austin, TX 78746 or Texas Hearing and Service Dogs, 4803 Rutherglen, Austin, TX 78749.