Seymour Baer, 75

LENOX, Mass.  — Seymour Baer of Lenox, Mass., and Bloomfield, Conn., passed away peacefully on November 1, 2018, at  Mercy Hospital in Springfield, Mass.

Born on June 19, 1942, Seymour was raised by his father, Jacob Baer, and grandmother, Rebecca Galper, following mother Irene Baer’s death later that year. As a youth, he spent ten years at Torah Vadat Yeshiva and two years at New London High School. Seymour joined the U.S. Air Force for four years and then enlisted in the U.S. Navy  to expand his horizons.  As an aviation logistician, he arranged aircraft supplies on the Nimitz, the Independence, and the Guam. A veteran of the Vietnam and Beirut Wars, he retired as a Chief Petty Officer with a total of 24 years of military service. His thirst for learning was subsequently met at St. Leo College, where he completed   degrees in Theology and Psychology, and Troy State’s Master’s program in Management.

He leaves many friends and family, including his children, Marcus, Brian, and Rebecca; daughter-in-law, Renee Baer; cousins Allan and Elayne Goodstone and Carol and Allen Wendorf; and beloved grandchildren, Sandra, Kara, and Zachary.

During the last 13 and a half years with his life partner, Regina Karas, his new family included  Regina's son, Jay Karas and daughter-in-law, Dr. Monica Osborne, and grandson Leo; Regina's  siblings, Elissa and Mark Weinberg and Al and Maribel Goldin, enjoyed the many stories Seymour shared with them. The nephews and nieces, Robert and Alana Weinberg, Dr. David Weinberg and Dr. Rachael Beckert, and Jeremy Weinberg have often retold some of Seymour’s travel tales. His lively personality will be missed by many.

Funeral notice: Graveside services will be held Tuesday, November 6, 2018, at 11 a.m. at Knesset Israel Cemetery, 484 Pecks Road, Pittsfield, MA 01201, with Rabbi David Weiner, Spiritual Leader of Congregation Knesset Israel, officiating. Evening services will be held also on Tuesday, November 6, 2018, at 7 p.m. at Congregation Knesset Israel, 16 Colt Road, Pittsfield.

Shiva will be observed at Rolling Hills Condominium in the club house, Lenox, Mass., on Wednesday, November 7, 2018, and Thursday, November 8, 2018, from 2 to 5 p.m. and Friday, November 9, 2018, from 10:30 a.m. to noon. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to the Jewish War Veterans; Knesset Israel Synagogue; or Youth Aliyah Fund of Hadassah in care of Flynn & Dagnoli-Bencivenga Funeral Home, 5 Elm St., Pittsfield, Mass., which is in charge of arrangements.