Lisa Jennifer Selzman
December 25, 1960 - March 31, 2024

LISA JENNIFER SELZMAN: (married name Greenberg) passed away peacefully on March 31, 2024 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, following an extended battle with cancer. Lisa was born in Houston, Texas, on December 25, 1960, to Martha Ann Selzman (née Kaufman) and Dr. Harold Martin Selzman. Lisa graduated from St. John's School in Houston, prior to receiving her bachelor's degree in creative writing, magna cum laude, from Barnard College, Columbia University. She spent several years working as a magazine staffer and editor in Manhattan, prior to returning to school and receiving her master's degree in dance therapy from Antioch University in New Hampshire.

Lisa was accomplished in her professional life both as a writer, and as a psychotherapist.  As a writer, Lisa's poetry, fiction, essays and feature articles appeared in many publications, including Poets & Writers, House Beautiful, Child, Glamour, Mademoiselle, Self, New Woman, McCall's, Cleo, American Health, and Barnard magazine, as well as in literary journals including the North American Review, Alaska Quarterly Review, and the Worcester Review. For many years, she reviewed books regularly for The Houston Chronicle, The New York Times Book Review, and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Her writings also appeared in anthologies several times, including in If These Walls Could Talk:  Thoughts of Home (Hearst).  

As a psychotherapist, Lisa began her career at St. Joseph's Medical Center in Houston, and she subsequently worked for years as a staff therapist on the inpatient psychiatry wards at Dartmouth Hospital in New Hampshire. In the most recent few decades in Pittsburgh, Lisa worked as a therapist on the inpatient psychiatry units at UPMC Mercy Hospital; in outpatient counseling and support services through Gateway Rehab; and in private practice. Lisa's clinical interests focused especially on body image, women’s issues, and trauma, and she wrote on these topics as well as applying her expertise in the support of her clients.

Lisa's professional life reflected her love for poetry, writing and the arts, as well as for healing and working with people in pain. But above all, Lisa loved her family. She was deeply proud of her two children, and she wanted to chaperone every school activity, and to spectate at every theater performance,  cross-country meet, and musical open-mic event. Lisa always tried to put her family first, no matter what else she was doing. She was also very active in her community, and she seemed to have friends everywhere. Lisa was a remarkably outgoing, friendly, and kind person, and as a result, she made friends quickly wherever she went. 

Lisa is survived by her adult daughter, Hunter Greenberg, and by her adult son, Spencer Greenberg; by her husband of 25 years, Michael Greenberg; by her parents, Dr. Harold and Martha Ann Selzman; and by her two brothers, Dr. Andy Selzman and Dr. Craig Selzman. Services at Temple Ohav Shalom, 8400 Thompson Run Road, Allison Park on Thursday, April 4, 2024 at 12:30 PM. Visitation one and one half hour prior to service at Temple, (11 AM - 12:30 PM. Interment Homewood Cemetery, Pittsburgh. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Temple Ohav Shalom will be live-streaming the service. Please call the funeral home 412.621.8282 for the link. 

Our hearts are broken. But we will love and cherish our memories of Lisa for the rest of our lives. Rest in peace, Boo.

Arrangements entrusted to Ralph Schugar Chapel, Inc., www.schugar.com

Condolences

Michael, Hunter, and Spencer, We are so deeply sorry for your loss. Lisa was a wonderful woman filled with love and vitality. We are very grateful for the time we knew her. Our hearts go out to you, now and always. Love, James, Maureen, and Maria Wack

Sending prayers of comfort and condolences to Michael and the entire Greenberg and Selzman family.

Our hearts are with you! Sending boundless love, Carla & Mike Ehland

Michael-sending loving kindness and compassion from the depths of my heart to you and your family and praying everyday to Amitabha that Lisa does not wander in the bardo. My heart truly goes out to all of you.

Heartfelt sympathy to Michael, Hunter and Spence. Lisa was a wonderful neighbor. May she rest in peace.

Dearest Michael, Hunter, and Spencer, I don’t even know what to say! Your mother loved you all to the ends of the earth and back and there is no way that she would ever allowed this to happen if she had an ounce of control over forces beyond us all. She fought her illness as hard as she could for as long as she could every step of the way. She wanted to live!!! Anyway, please know that many people loved your mother, she was one of a kind. I admired her greatly. She wrote the very best paper I ever received when I taught her psychopathology course at Antioch and we became fast friends. Over the years, your mother shared some of her exquisite writing with me and her esssys and book reviews were absolutely top notch. I was deeply touched when she asked me to be your godmother, Hunter though I don’t think I have lived up to that accolade in proper order. Suffice is to say you can always call or email or text me and so will endeavor to respond quickly. The few times we were together when you visited Boston (I have some pics!) and when I came to your Bat Mitzvah, and visited you all when you were born before she and your dad left Boston for LA and Pittsburgh were all memorable visits. Spence, you were that amazing kid on the trampoline with your mother having conniptions. And she was so proud of how you handled you COVID transition to college and taking your gap year in Israel and on and on. Michael, you have been so brave, so stalwart, Lisa’s rock for ever and ever. You had great years but too short!!! I can only imagine what you have survived since Lisa’s diagnosis and Mengele treatments (as she called them) especially since last summer. So this is just sucks beyond words. My heart is with you all as it has always been but especially now in your grief and loss. You are surrounded by love but please add me to the list of people who loved your mother. She is always in my heart as you all are. Love, Lynn “Lynnie”