Gabriel Seidman, age 96, of Moores Hill, Indiana, passed away on Dec. 6.
Born in Lisbon, Connecticut, Seidman moved with his family to Miami, Florida, where he graduated from high school. He received his undergraduate and master’s degrees from the University of Miami. His love of horticulture led him to obtain a Ph.D. in plant physiology from Kansas State University.
Gabe was proud to serve in the U.S. Navy as a crew radarman during the Korean War. He later served in the Air Force Reserves for many years. Gabe received a fellowship from the National Institute of Health to do research at Cornell University from 1960 to 1961.
He married Sandra Matters of Kansas City in 1959. Gabe transferred to the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Cincinnati, Ohio, and worked there from 1961 to 1970. His passion was plants, so he decided to open his own business, The Garden Place, in Withamsville, Ohio. Upon retirement, Gabe and Sandra moved to a farm in Moores Hill, Indiana, where they kept their horses. In retirement, Gabe planted a small orchard of many different varieties of fruit trees and maintained a huge garden, selling his produce at a nearby farm market.
Gabe was predeceased by his parents, Bessie and Isaac Seidman; siblings, Leo (Rose), Ethel Botnick (Joe) and Abe (Lillian); and special nephew, Ralph Botnick. He is survived by his wife, Sandra (Matters) Seidman; his daughter, Sara Jaffee (Tom); special nieces Sara Levine and Debra Botnick; and many nieces and nephews.
Graveside services were held at Mt. Carmel Cemetery in Raytown, Missouri, on Friday, Dec. 12. Online condolences for the family may be left at louismemorialchapel.com.
