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IN LOVING MEMORY OF

Olga B.

Olga B. Selleck Profile Photo

Selleck

d. Mar 11, 2018

Obituary

Olga B. Selleck, 93, Redding Environmental Activist

Olga Betty Selleck died peacefully Sunday March 11, 2018 at the Regional Hospice in Danbury CT. She was 93
and lived in Redding CT.
Ollie was a dynamic citizen-activist, lifelong advocate for peace and justice, dedicated member of Redding's
land preservation initiative, and the first female member and then Chair of the Redding Conservation
Commission, as well as Redding Grants Administrator. She was an early member of the Redding League of
Women Voters, Citizen's Action Council, an active member of the Democratic Town Committee, and Clerk for
the CT General Assembly's Environment Committee.
Ollie was born December 27, 1924 in Paris, France, the daughter of Austin Hariton Manko and Julia Chervenak
Manko of Bridgeport CT. A Russian immigrant and skilled electrical engineer, Austin worked on a US
government munitions contract but was deported to Russia in 1921, wrongly accused of being an enemy of the
US during the first Red Scare, known as the Palmer Raids. Ollie's parents endured a long saga of being
refugees in post WWII Europe, until 1927 when the family emigrated to Mexico. Ollie lived with her parents
and her two brothers, Austin and Harold, until they returned with their mother to Bridgeport in 1933. Her
father was never allowed to return to the US.
Ollie and her brothers supported their mother and each graduated from Warren Harding High School in
Bridgeport. Ollie returned to Mexico to visit her father after graduation, but was not able to reverse the
authorities' decision to prohibit Austin Sr's return to the US.
Ollie married Lincoln C. Selleck of Nichols CT in 1952, and they lived in Westport CT for 8 years. They had 3
children. The family moved in 1962 to a modern "Techbilt" house they had built in wooded West Redding CT,
where Ollie lived for the remainder of her years.
A devoted daughter, mother, grandmother, aunt, cousin and friend, Ollie was passionate about close friends
and family ties. She loved to travel and experience different cultures in Europe, the British Isles and Central
America. She was an avid theatergoer and participant in numerous book clubs and French language classes.
She delighted in every encounter with her relatives, following each one's journeys and activities. She was also
a skilled seamstress and assisted her family with a wide range of projects.
Ollie was predeceased by her beloved husband Lincoln in November 1994, having been married for 42 years.
She is survived by her children and grandchildren, Thomas Selleck of Fairfield Iowa and his son Girindra
Selleck; Laura Selleck, husband Bill Hill of Redding CT and their son Lincoln Hill; and Susan Selleck, husband
Saul Cornell of Redding CT and their daughters, Emma Cornell and Julia Cornell.
Burial at Umpawaug Cemetery in Redding will be held privately with the family.
A celebration of her life will be held Saturday March 17, 2018 at 11am,at New Pond Farm Education Center,
101 Marchant Road, West Redding, CT.
Should friends wish, a donation in her memory to a the Redding Land Trust
(http://reddingctlandtrust.org/giving/) would be appreciated.
To send flowers or plant a memorial tree in memory, please visit our flower store.

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