On March 26, 2024, Beatrice Singer Selig died peacefully at home, under a full moon, immersed in the love of family and friends at her bedside and in the memories of her treasured deceased husband, Dr. Harry M. Selig.
Born in Brooklyn, New York in 1923, Bea, as she was known to one and all, spent the next hundred years in a varied and distinguished career. She served as a Second Lieutenant United States Army Nurse Corp 1945-47, proudly graduated from Russell Sage College, and was a valued and long-serving Professor of Nursing at Berkshire Community College in Pittsfield, Massachusetts.
Bea co-led the 1980s movement for equity pay for women in the state of Massachusetts, beginning at Berkshire Community College and ending with a win at the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court. She delivered hundreds of babies, beginning at St. Luke’s hospital in the 1950’s, and ending with her professorship at Berkshire Community College, where she inspired countless nursing students over decades. A fierce Mahjongg player until her last weeks, in 1953 Bea and her friends founded the now “Oldest established permanent floating Mahjongg game in Pittsfield”, which will be carried on by second generation members in the group. She will always be our “East”.
With no Bat Mitzvah at age 13 in 1936 due to her gender, Bea celebrated hers on her 80th birthday. Bea was devoted to the Jewish community that surrounded her, filling many roles at Knesset Israel Synagogue throughout the decades. Bea was particularly filled with joy at having four generations under the roof at KI. She was a gracious Passover hostess, welcoming guests of all denominations at her seders. She was an active volunteer at the Jewish Federation of the Berkshires. A life member of Hadassah and a nurse, she advocated for women’s and family health in both the Berkshires and beyond. Bea was part of a team of Hadassah nurses for the Check it Out program that went into Berkshire County middle and high schools to teach about the importance of breast health and self care. A plaque hangs for the nursing program in her honor at Hadassah Hospital in Israel.
She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law Regina and Steven Mason and five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren in whom she delighted: Chandi Lauzon; twins Hannah Harvey (Kevin) and Noah Lauzon; his three children Sophia Bella, Solomon, and Coyote and their mother Winter Cantagallo; Cara Rose Lauzon; and Johannes Nightingale. A true matriarch of her family, she also leaves behind an impressive number of bonus family members.
The funeral for Beatrice Selig will be Thursday March 28, 2024 at 11:00 AM at Congregation Knesset Israel 16 Colt Rd. Pittsfield, MA. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her name to: Berkshire Community College Scholarship Fund https://www.berkshirecc.edu/about-bcc/bcc-foundation/annual-fund-gift.php or mail a check to, in the memory of Beatrice Selig: BCC Foundation 1350 West Street Pittsfield, MA 01201 or Capital District Patriot Flight https://patriotflight.org/donate-now/ or mail a check to, in the memory of Beatrice Selig: Patriot Flight, Inc. PO Box 13776 Albany, NY 12212-3779 or Berkshire Hills Hadassah Please mail check to, in memory of Beatrice Selig:
Berkshire Hills Hadassah P.O Box 187 Pittsfield, MA 01202 or Home Care Services of Massachusetts Please mail check to, subject line to the memory of Beatrice Selig Home Care Services of Massachusetts 66 West Street Suite L1 Pittsfield, MA 01201. To add to the Book of Memories, please visit www.flynndagnolifuneralhomes.com
Published by The Berkshire Eagle on Mar. 28, 2024.