Selma Kaplan Ulanoff

Selma M. (Kaplan) Ulanoff, 89, passed away on Thursday, April 19, 2018. She leaves her three daughters and their families: Nori-Lynn and Bob Truscott and their son Harrison; Debbi Ulan and her sons Bryan and Jason; Sherri-Rose and Whit Reed and their children Michael and Raynie. She also leaves behind her dear sister, Gloria Blaufarb and her family as well as many other extended family and close friends. Selma grew up the oldest of four children on Charlotte Street in the Bronx. She spent extended periods of time being hospitalized due to various serious illnesses, but her mother never gave up on her and nursed her back to health. Even though she missed so much school, she was an excellent student and was offered a full scholarship to City University of New York. However, her father wouldn't let her go because "you didn't need a college education to change diapers". In her twenties she began singing at the USO and was offered a record contract with a big band--and recorded a record. However, when it came time to do a tour her father forbid her to go--because only "those" kind of women would do that. She was very beautiful and dated quite a bit but had told her mother that she was never going to marry. However, after being set up with Stan on a blind date he asked her to marry him after only six weeks. Selma initially declined and told her mother she didn't want to see him again. Her mother convinced her he was a "good man" and they were married soon after. Selma was told she would not be able to bear children, however, a year after being married she was overjoyed to discover she was pregnant. She went on to have three girls who she loved and spoiled. Her family was her whole life--she loved us fiercely and supported her children and her husband through adversity as well as good times. Selma was the quintessential care-taker--she not only took care of her immediately family, but also anyone who needed to be cared for or fed. She was known for "cooking enough food to feed the neighborhood"-- because she often did feed the neighborhood! If she loved you, you knew it. Her door her kitchen and her heart were always open and available. She loved to travel with her husband and family. Road trips were plentiful, as well as more exotic destinations such as Hawaii and Aruba. Although she hated bugs, she loved camping because we were all together. She loved being on the water with my father, in the boat he named "Seena K"--in honor of the name she used during her short singing career--eating the fish they had caught that day and watching the sun set together. But most of all she loved being with her family as we all knew by the glowing warmth and love that you felt when you were lucky enough to be in her orbit. Selma was an intelligent, amazing wonderful woman who touched everyone she met with her love, her caring and her wicked sense of humor. She may be gone but we will never forget her.

Selma Kaplan Ulanoff

July 4, 1928 - April 19, 2018