Obituary of Carol West Seldin

Long-time New Canaan resident Carol West Seldin died on June 6, 2024 at Yale New Haven Hospital after a courageous battle with lymphoma.  She was a devoted spouse to Peter, mother to Matthew and Douglas, mother-in-law to Alayna and Dara, and daughter to Joseph and Geraldine West.  She was a treasured friend to many, a kind, caring, inclusive and supportive woman who dedicated herself to the service of others.  She will live on in the memories of all who knew and loved her.

Born July 29, 1949 in Cambridge, MA, Carol graduated from Wellesley HS, Skidmore College and SUNY Albany.  She taught English, theater and debate at Lakeland HS in Shrub Oak, NY.  Carol derived particular joy from directing the student musicals and plays, with West Side Story and George M! as two of her most memorable  productions. 

While on sabbatical in San Francisco, she met Peter Seldin, whom she married in June 1980.  The new couple moved to Chicago, where Carol taught at the Laboratory Schools at the Univ. of Chicago.  The Seldins moved back East, first to Wellesley, where their two sons were born.  They settled in New Canaan, where they resided together for 37 years.  Carol displayed her devotion to New Canaan in numerous ways over those many years.

After retiring from teaching, Carol was a world-class stay-at-home mom, lovingly attending to her family and every detail on the home front.  She made each birthday, anniversary and holiday celebration truly meaningful and unique, often beginning her preparation months in advance.   

A well-read, intelligent and thoughtful woman, Carol had many interests.  Her book group was an ongoing source of friendship and enlightenment.  The Seldins travelled the world, with their safari in the Serengeti being Carol’s all-time favorite adventure.  She presided over a wonderful succession of husky shepherds, labs and pugs.  Carol’s lifelong interest in theater led to her lengthy service as a trustee of the Westport Country Playhouse.  Along with her husband Peter, she endowed the Seldin Performing Arts Center at St. Luke’s School in New Canaan.

Carol was a certified master gardener, her unquenchable passion.  Carol’s motto was “Gardens are for Sharing.”  Over a decade, she developed Dogwood Hill, her extraordinary garden on Ponus Ridge, featured in the national press as one of the “Great Gardens Across America.”  Carol took pride in sharing her creation with the community, hosting innumerable events over many years. 

She served as the President of the New Canaan Beautification League, a group that has helped to make the town an even more wonderful place to live.  Though Carol loved flowers so much, in lieu of flowers, friends and family can honor her by donating to newcanaanbeautification.org.