Selma Bukstein

LAGUNA WOODS, Calif. — Selma Bukstein, 98, passed away Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2024.

She was born March 1, 1926, in East Orange, New Jersey, to Laura Gelernter and Abraham Ratner.

Her large, extended family nourished her distinct personality. Her senior yearbook quote was “Ambitious and Energetic”. Selma continued to live up to those two adjectives every waking moment of her long life.

During World War II, Selma trained as a nurse in Philadelphia and then moved to Los Angeles as a staff nurse.

In 1948, she met Paul Bukstein. They were married Sept. 6, 1948, and were together for 74 years until Paul’s passing in 2021.

In 1951, they moved to Chaffee with their baby, Don, where Paul joined the family men’s slacks business. Selma welcomed four more sons from 1952 to 1956 — Lee, Roy, Oscar and Barry. She worked hard to improve life in her small town by helping establish a well-baby clinic, library, tennis courts and racial integration at the community pool. She brought “Dolls for Democracy” — a program that fought prejudice — to the local schools.

In 1963, the family moved to nearby Cape Girardeau, where Selma helped found the Historical Association of Greater Cape Girardeau and Teenage Club, and served as PTA president. In 1972, they moved to Mobile, Alabama, where she worked as an intensive care unit nurse for 15 years and continued many volunteer activities.

In 1991, they moved to Laguna Woods, and Selma founded the Bonsai Club, headed an earthquake task force, assisted in flu immunizations and joined a rich community of like-minded artists in creating glass art, wearable art and so much more. In 2004, Selma was honored by the historical association as “Leisure Worlder of the Month”. In 2017, she was featured in an award-winning short film, “The Last Doll Lady”. Many in her community know her as Sheriff Sunny, the clown, and as an active member of Concerned Citizens, Reform Temple of Laguna Woods and Laguna Woods Democratic Club.

Selma will long be remembered as a woman of warmth, strength, strong conviction, persistence and unbridled energy. Her home was always a haven for friends and family, and she cared deeply about making the world a better place.

Selma is survived by her five sons, Don (Judy), Lee (Katharine), Roy (Kathy), Oscar (Adrienne) and Barry (Lisa); her 10 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.

Donations in Selma’s memory may be made to the Bukstein Nursing Endowment Fund, a scholarship fund for deserving nursing students at Saddleback Community College. To donate online, visit www.jewish orangecounty.org/ways-to-give/ designated-giving-choose-a-fund. Tap “Select Fund” in the middle of the page, and select “Bukstein Nursing Endowment Fund”. Or send a check to: Jewish Federation of Orange County AND be sure to note “Bukstein Nursing Endowment Fund” in the memo line. Mail the check to: Jewish Federation of Orange County, P.O. Box 841305, Los Angeles, CA 90084-1305.