Lisa Jennifer Selzman (married name Greenberg)

SELZMAN: Lisa Jennifer Selzman (married name Greenberg) passed away peacefully on March 31, 2024, in Pittsburgh following an extended battle with cancer. Lisa was born in Houston, Texas, on Dec. 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 p.m. Visitation one-and-one-half hour prior to service at Temple (11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.). Interment Homewood Cemetery, Pittsburgh. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.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., schugar.com PJC