Rae Selig fulfilled a wonderful life on Thursday, November 29, 2018, with her family by her side. She is survived by her son Ted and wife Kim of Carlisle, her son Thomas and wife Christine of Hadley, her daughter Chris of San Francisco, her brother Ian and nephew Christopher of Amherst, and her three grandchildren Tanner, Adam, and Alexis. She was predeceased by her husband, Ernie. 

Rae was born to parents from Clydebank, Scotland, who immigrated to the US in the 1920s to escape hardship, and she grew up in Union, New Jersey. She was the first generation and first woman in her family to attend college graduating from Cornell University in 1957 with a Bachelor of Arts in Government. It was there Rae met her husband Ernest T. Selig III. 

Rae was a very warm, kind, funny, understated, interesting person with an excellent mind. Her elegant minimalist sense of aesthetics and love of art made her surroundings beautiful. She lovingly cared well for a piece of land where we grew up that has thriving woods, many wild animals, and a flourishing flower garden.  

Over the years of traveling the world with Ernie and hosting countless visiting families in her home, she became known as much for her genuine, warm hospitality as for her fabulous meals. Rae was an amazing cook with a bookshelf full of recipes she used as inspiration but adjusted by taste. The dinners were a delicious pretext for long and lingering contemplative conversations about life and the world and were always filled with joy and moments of uproarious laughter. 

For over 20 years, Rae hosted a Friday morning tea for young immigrant women from 19 countries around the world. She welcomed these women for a conversation group where they became comfortable speaking English and grew a support network. She understood that her life was much richer knowing people from cultures all over the world. 

Rae and Ernie were married for 58 years. During their happy adventure-filled life together they created homes in the university communities of Chicago, IL, Buffalo, NY and Amherst, MA and had sabbaticals at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Nottingham University, United Kingdom, and Pretoria University, South Africa. Her travels took her to six continents. At each new home and on every adventure, her genuine warmth and graciousness earned her new friends quickly. 

We were so lucky to have such a wonderful mom. She gave so much of herself to her family, more than we could ever fully communicate. She was also so very pleased her children are the people they are. Rae was a loving grandmother and delighted in spending time with her three grandchildren, who she called the “little people’” (and who are no longer little).  

We will continue to love and cherish such a wonderful woman. A tea and tribute to celebrate Rae’s life will be held Saturday, January 12, 2019 at 10 AM at the Lord Jeffrey Inn in Amherst, MA. with a reception to follow at 11:00 am. In lieu of flowers, consider building your world friendships by hosting a tea. If you wish to make a tribute gift, please consider donating in her name to the Kestrel Land Trust www.kestreltrust.org/give/tribute-gift