Robert J. Selig, 89

Robert J. Selig, 89, passed away in Bloomfield, Connecticut, on July 19, 2026.

Born in Massachusetts in 1936, Bob’s family moved to Laconia, in 1940. He graduated from Laconia High School in 1954, and earned his baccalaureate degree with honors in economics from Brown University, in 1958.

Within days of graduation, Bob joined his beloved father Irving and his uncles, Eugene Brindis and Edward Paris, in growing the family business, Laconia Shoe Co. In its heyday, the company employed 1,100 people and manufactured 10,000 pairs of shoes a day. Bob became president of Laconia Shoe in 1972.

He married his wife, Joyce Hyman Selig, in 1961, and they had three sons, Mark, Eric and Scott.

He was awarded two American Shoe Designer Awards by the Leather Industries of America. In 1986, he became chief executive officer and president of Weinbrenner Shoe Co. in Merrill, Wisconsin. In 1989, he returned to New Hampshire and was chairman of Selig Executive Search from 1989 to 2005.

Bob lived by the teaching of Rabbi Tarfo, “It is not your duty to finish the work, but neither are you at liberty to neglect it.” His work as chairman of the board of Lakes Region General Hospital, Taylor Community, Laconia Public Library, NH Jewish Federation, as well as serving on The Governor’s Commission for the Protection and Expansion of Shoe Manufacturing in New Hampshire, director of the 210 International Footwear Foundation and as president of Temple B’nai Israel many times attested to this motto. He led many of these organizations through their building renovations and reorganization.

He believed in creating a better world ... a better community ... a better nation.

He joined the board of Jewish Broadcasting Services, “the place for all things Jewish” at its inception. JBS was created by Rabbi Mark S. Golub who had been the first student rabbi hired by Temple B’nai Israel in the early 1970s. This was an innovation in finding rabbinical leadership which Bob instituted and which brought many, many young rabbis to serve, in Laconia, over decades as part-time clergy.

After living in Wisconsin, Manchester, and Laconia again, Bob’s later years were spent living in St. Augustine, Florida; Amelia Island, Florida; and Bloomfield, Connecticut, but Laconia, was always “home.” This is where he created roots, where there was family and there were dear friends with whom he could enjoy golf or tennis or time on Lake Winnipesaukee.

Bob was predeceased by his parents, Irving and Frances Brindis Selig, and his brother Steven Selig. He is survived by his beloved family, wife Joyce; sons Mark (Marjory) Selig, Eric (Kimberly) Selig and Scott (Rebecca) Selig; 10 grandchildren, Alexandra (Skyler) Harris, Julia (Dominic) Infanzon, Edward (Sonaira) Selig, Dena Selig, Eliana Selig, Carly Selig, Victoria (Joshua) Khonstamn, Abigail Selig, Nicole Selig, and Jillian Selig; five great-grandsons, Adam and Liam Infanzon, Malcolm and Landon Harris and Weston Kohnstam; sister Peggy Selig; and sisters-in-law Jeanie Selig and Marilyn Shlank.

A funeral service will be at 3 p.m. on Friday, July 24, at Temple B’nai Israel, 210 Court St., Laconia. For those who are unable to attend in person, the service will be streamed live via Zoom: us02web.zoom.us/j/83673170169?pwd=WkF6Bl37r8lMYtefKi0gYKwU56Be9i.1#success.

Burial will be at Temple B’nai Israel Cemetery in Union Cemetery, Academy Street, directly following the funeral.

The family will be sitting shiva on Saturday, July 25, at Jeanie Selig’s home in Gilford.

For those who wish, the family suggests memorial contributions in Bob’s name be made to the Laconia Public Library, 695 N. Main St., Laconia, NH 03246, or to the Rabbi Discretionary Fund, Temple B’nai Israel, 210 Court St., Laconia, NH 03246.

Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home & Cremation Services/603Cremations.com, 164 Pleasant St., Laconia, is assisting the family with arrangements. For more information and to view an online memorial, visit wilkinsonbeane.com.