RICHARD W. SELTZER, EdD., 91
Colonel US Army Retired
Passed away on 6/14/2014 in Boston, MA, born 6/5/1923 in Washington, D.C.
Well-known Philadelphia actor and performer, best remembered for his role as “Joe” in the Pennsylvania Lottery holiday Commercial that ran for 20 years in the tri-state area.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZgOt6d5Qok (original ad)
http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2012/12/09/pa-lotterys-20-year-old-holiday-ad-gets-makeover/ (commentary about new ad)
Seltzer also appeared in motion pictures and TV shows over the years such as “Signs,” “A Beautiful Mind,” “Gettysburg,” “Killer Angels,” “For Richer or Poorer,” “Law and Order,” and “Homicide.” He also appeared in the original “Reading Rainbow” on PBS as the Ringmaster with LeVar Burton.
Before beginning his professional acting career, Seltzer was an educator and administrator, serving as the Superintendent of the Columbia School District in Columbia, PA from 1974 to 1980, and for the Lower Moreland School District in Huntingdon Valley, PA from 1964-1974, and before that, he was Dean of Plymouth State College (now university) in Plymouth, New Hampshire.
He was a long-time resident of the Philadelphia area with his late wife, Helen Estes, a native of East Falls. The two met during in 1943 at the Stage Door Canteen in the basement of the Academy of Music – Seltzer was a PFC in the Army and Estes was a USO hostess. They married in 1944. He was a member of the 106th Infantry Division which went on to fight the Battle of the Bulge – as luck would have it, he was pulled out of service to attend Officer’s Candidate School at the last minute; the man who replaced him ended up being the one from the unit that was captured by the Germans. He was also trained in counter-intelligence and code-cracking.
After World War II, Seltzer was accepted to the UCLA Acting program and made his way to Los Angeles with Helen and their first baby, Richard Jr. in tow. A post-war housing shortage brought them back a few weeks later and the acting dream was put on hold, but Seltzer made the most of it by going into teaching in the Upper Darby School District. He eventually gained a Master’s degree in 1951 and Doctorate in Education in 1957 from the University of Pennsylvania.
Over the years, Seltzer remained active in theatre and musical groups such as the Union League Glee Club and the University Glee Club in Philadelphia, and kept up his violin skills with the Parkway Orchestra in Boston. He was a long-time member of the Screen Actors Guild, AFTRA and Actors’ Equity in a career that spanned 27 years. He was also an active member for many years in the Sons of the American Revolution, Continental Chapter; Pennsylvania Society Sons of the Revolution, Genealogical Society; past President of the Rotary Club of Columbia, PA; member of the Merion Cricket Club, PA; Pennsylvania Historical Society, Massachusetts Society Sons of the Revolution; former President, Paul Revere Chapter of the MOAA (Military Officers Association of America).
Seltzer remained active in the Army Reserves for 35 years and retired as a Full Colonel, receiving the Meritorious Award for Service in 1983. His remains, along with Helen’s, will be inurned at Arlington National Cemetery with full honors.
He is survived by two children: Richard Jr. and Sallie Estes. 4 Grandchildren: Robert, Heather, Michael and Timothy and two great granddaughters – Adela and Lila, (both children of Robert).
There will be a memorial service held at Trinity Lutheran Church, 1195 Centre Street in Roslindale on June 27th, 2014 at 5:30 PM.
Any donations can be made in his name to: Deutsches Altenheim (please indicate “Resident Life Activities Fund”), 2222 Centre Street, West Roxbury, MA 02132.
More details, if interested:
Married Helen Isabella Estes of Philadelphia, PA on 5 June 1944. Richard attended Montgomery County, Maryland public schools in Silver Spring. Graduated from Montgomery Blair High School in June 1941. Attended Gettysburg College 1941-42; University of Maryland 1942-42 and 1946-48 at College Park, MD and received a bachelor’s degree. He continued his education at University of Pennsylvania, gaining an M.S. in 1951 and a doctorate in Education in 1957.
Enlisted Army Reserve 2 Nov 1942- 3 Mar 43, enlisted active duty 3 Mar 1943. As Enlisted PFC at the University of Pennsylvania in the Army Specialized Training Program, German Area and Language Program. Anti-tank gunner and Bugler AT Co. 422 Inf. Regt. 106th Inf. Div., 1944. Military Intelligence Training Center, Camp Ritchie, MD, Photo interpreter. Officer Candidate School, Fort Benning, Georgia 1944. Commissioned 2nd Lt. Infantry. Military Intelligence Officer at Camp Ritchie, Fort Mead, and Fort Holabird (Baltimore, MD). Assigned to the 5th Inf. Div, Counter Intelligence Corps Dec 1945 at Camp Campbell, KY. Recipient of American Theatre Service Medal and the Victory Medal.
U.S. Army Reserve, Civil Affairs from July 1946 to May 1977. Retired as a Full Colonel. Received the “Meritorious Service Medal” for outstanding service. A graduate of the Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas 1966 and the US Army War College, Carlisle, PA 1974.
Taught in Upper Darby Junior High School (Upper Darby, PA) from January 1948 to July 1951; Montgomery Hills Junior High School (Silver Spring, MD) 1951-1953; Richard Montgomery High School (Rockville, MD) 1953-55; Vice Principal, Wheaton High School 1955-56 (Silver Spring, MD); Director of Field Services, Maryland State Teachers’ Association, Baltimore, MD 1956-57; Assistant Director, University of Maryland, Baltimore Campus 1957-58; Dean, Plymouth State College (Plymouth, NH, 1958-63); Superintendent of Schools, Bristol, PA, 1963-64 and Superintendent of Schools, Lower Moreland Township School District, Huntingdon Valley, PA, 1964-74; Superintendent of Schools, Columbia, PA, 1974-1980.
Member, lector, church council, Trinity Lutheran Church, Roslindale, MA; member of the Union League of Philadelphia; the University Glee Club; Sons of the American Revolution, Continental Chapter; Pennsylvania Society Sons of the Revolution, Genealogical Society; past President of the Rotary Club of Columbia, PA; member of the Merion Cricket Club, PA; Pennsylvania Historical Society, Massachusetts Society Sons of the Revolution; former President, Paul Revere Chapter of the MOAA (Military Officers Association of America).
Professional actor, model and spokesperson from 1980 to 2009; member of the Screen Actors Guild, A.F.T.R.A., and the American Equity Association.
Colonel US Army Retired
Passed away on 6/14/2014 in Boston, MA, born 6/5/1923 in Washington, D.C.
Well-known Philadelphia actor and performer, best remembered for his role as “Joe” in the Pennsylvania Lottery holiday Commercial that ran for 20 years in the tri-state area.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZgOt6d5Qok (original ad)
http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2012/12/09/pa-lotterys-20-year-old-holiday-ad-gets-makeover/ (commentary about new ad)
Seltzer also appeared in motion pictures and TV shows over the years such as “Signs,” “A Beautiful Mind,” “Gettysburg,” “Killer Angels,” “For Richer or Poorer,” “Law and Order,” and “Homicide.” He also appeared in the original “Reading Rainbow” on PBS as the Ringmaster with LeVar Burton.
Before beginning his professional acting career, Seltzer was an educator and administrator, serving as the Superintendent of the Columbia School District in Columbia, PA from 1974 to 1980, and for the Lower Moreland School District in Huntingdon Valley, PA from 1964-1974, and before that, he was Dean of Plymouth State College (now university) in Plymouth, New Hampshire.
He was a long-time resident of the Philadelphia area with his late wife, Helen Estes, a native of East Falls. The two met during in 1943 at the Stage Door Canteen in the basement of the Academy of Music – Seltzer was a PFC in the Army and Estes was a USO hostess. They married in 1944. He was a member of the 106th Infantry Division which went on to fight the Battle of the Bulge – as luck would have it, he was pulled out of service to attend Officer’s Candidate School at the last minute; the man who replaced him ended up being the one from the unit that was captured by the Germans. He was also trained in counter-intelligence and code-cracking.
After World War II, Seltzer was accepted to the UCLA Acting program and made his way to Los Angeles with Helen and their first baby, Richard Jr. in tow. A post-war housing shortage brought them back a few weeks later and the acting dream was put on hold, but Seltzer made the most of it by going into teaching in the Upper Darby School District. He eventually gained a Master’s degree in 1951 and Doctorate in Education in 1957 from the University of Pennsylvania.
Over the years, Seltzer remained active in theatre and musical groups such as the Union League Glee Club and the University Glee Club in Philadelphia, and kept up his violin skills with the Parkway Orchestra in Boston. He was a long-time member of the Screen Actors Guild, AFTRA and Actors’ Equity in a career that spanned 27 years. He was also an active member for many years in the Sons of the American Revolution, Continental Chapter; Pennsylvania Society Sons of the Revolution, Genealogical Society; past President of the Rotary Club of Columbia, PA; member of the Merion Cricket Club, PA; Pennsylvania Historical Society, Massachusetts Society Sons of the Revolution; former President, Paul Revere Chapter of the MOAA (Military Officers Association of America).
Seltzer remained active in the Army Reserves for 35 years and retired as a Full Colonel, receiving the Meritorious Award for Service in 1983. His remains, along with Helen’s, will be inurned at Arlington National Cemetery with full honors.
He is survived by two children: Richard Jr. and Sallie Estes. 4 Grandchildren: Robert, Heather, Michael and Timothy and two great granddaughters – Adela and Lila, (both children of Robert).
There will be a memorial service held at Trinity Lutheran Church, 1195 Centre Street in Roslindale on June 27th, 2014 at 5:30 PM.
Any donations can be made in his name to: Deutsches Altenheim (please indicate “Resident Life Activities Fund”), 2222 Centre Street, West Roxbury, MA 02132.
More details, if interested:
Married Helen Isabella Estes of Philadelphia, PA on 5 June 1944. Richard attended Montgomery County, Maryland public schools in Silver Spring. Graduated from Montgomery Blair High School in June 1941. Attended Gettysburg College 1941-42; University of Maryland 1942-42 and 1946-48 at College Park, MD and received a bachelor’s degree. He continued his education at University of Pennsylvania, gaining an M.S. in 1951 and a doctorate in Education in 1957.
Enlisted Army Reserve 2 Nov 1942- 3 Mar 43, enlisted active duty 3 Mar 1943. As Enlisted PFC at the University of Pennsylvania in the Army Specialized Training Program, German Area and Language Program. Anti-tank gunner and Bugler AT Co. 422 Inf. Regt. 106th Inf. Div., 1944. Military Intelligence Training Center, Camp Ritchie, MD, Photo interpreter. Officer Candidate School, Fort Benning, Georgia 1944. Commissioned 2nd Lt. Infantry. Military Intelligence Officer at Camp Ritchie, Fort Mead, and Fort Holabird (Baltimore, MD). Assigned to the 5th Inf. Div, Counter Intelligence Corps Dec 1945 at Camp Campbell, KY. Recipient of American Theatre Service Medal and the Victory Medal.
U.S. Army Reserve, Civil Affairs from July 1946 to May 1977. Retired as a Full Colonel. Received the “Meritorious Service Medal” for outstanding service. A graduate of the Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas 1966 and the US Army War College, Carlisle, PA 1974.
Taught in Upper Darby Junior High School (Upper Darby, PA) from January 1948 to July 1951; Montgomery Hills Junior High School (Silver Spring, MD) 1951-1953; Richard Montgomery High School (Rockville, MD) 1953-55; Vice Principal, Wheaton High School 1955-56 (Silver Spring, MD); Director of Field Services, Maryland State Teachers’ Association, Baltimore, MD 1956-57; Assistant Director, University of Maryland, Baltimore Campus 1957-58; Dean, Plymouth State College (Plymouth, NH, 1958-63); Superintendent of Schools, Bristol, PA, 1963-64 and Superintendent of Schools, Lower Moreland Township School District, Huntingdon Valley, PA, 1964-74; Superintendent of Schools, Columbia, PA, 1974-1980.
Member, lector, church council, Trinity Lutheran Church, Roslindale, MA; member of the Union League of Philadelphia; the University Glee Club; Sons of the American Revolution, Continental Chapter; Pennsylvania Society Sons of the Revolution, Genealogical Society; past President of the Rotary Club of Columbia, PA; member of the Merion Cricket Club, PA; Pennsylvania Historical Society, Massachusetts Society Sons of the Revolution; former President, Paul Revere Chapter of the MOAA (Military Officers Association of America).
Professional actor, model and spokesperson from 1980 to 2009; member of the Screen Actors Guild, A.F.T.R.A., and the American Equity Association.
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