Seraphim Seskevich May 27, 1938 - March 12, 2014
Lamentation: Elegy for an Angel
Seraphim Seskevich, 1938-2014
The existence of our fragile frames serves only to question the reason behind this weak and temporal housing of spirit, of soul, so grand and essential to the essence of life.
Yet no stone temple, no glass edifice, nor steel construct, no matter how impressive or mighty,could harbor ethereal substance and beauty, conceived only by God, of human ability to express that which is inexpressible.
For Seraphim, whose frailty embodied his strength, no form or barrier prevented his bringing forth the essence of purity and grace through art. To know him was to hardly fathom his powerful talent, embrace his sweet and gentle nature, cherish his humble spirit. These qualities pervaded his craft with such integrity as to transform the conventional into the unparalleled.
Surely he was sent from Heaven. Certainly his lingering aura remains.
And when the angels took him from our midst, the void smote our very being.
Our loss is Heaven's gain, where he now waits for us with open arms.
Edward Zagorski (2014)
Seraphim Seskevich, 75, passed peacefully from this world at home. He will now continue his journey to eternal life. He was a gentle and spiritual man who will always be remembered as a special angel by his friends and family.
Seraphim was born in Worcester, Massachusetts to Julia Seskevich and Royal Tibbetts, raised by Mary Beatrice Seskevich, his grandmother, who was an inspiration to him throughout his life.
His religious life began at an early age. During high school, he studied for priesthood in the Roman Catholic Church. He entered a Franciscan order after a brief time in the Air Force. With eleven other brothers, Seraphim left that order to found and build New Skete Monastery in Cambridge, New York. It was there that he found his spiritual home. He served as shepherd, writer of icons, cook and
builder. His icons still adorn the chapel and grounds. He left New Skete to design church altars and naves. His successful career was cut short when he suffered a stroke at age 35. After three months in a coma, he spent a year in rehabilitation. He always said that his grandmother's ability to continue to live life to the fullest, in spite of her physical challenges, gave him the strength and courage to regain his abilities after the stroke.
Following his stroke, Seraphim studied to train his left hand to continue to create art. He continued his education, receiving a Bachelor's Degree in Fine Arts and a Master's Degree in recreation therapy. For about 10 years, he shared his talents and personal experiences helping individuals with challenges in a variety of settings. While at one facility, he had an accident resulting in circulation difficulties. He then retired and devoted his life full-time to his art.
Seraphim's soul and being were always expressed through his art. From a very young age, he created something each day. His expression took many forms, drawing, painting, sculpture, and embroidery. His art flowed in stages reflecting where his mind and life were at that moment. As his ability to work in one form diminished in recent years, he found new forms of creative expression to share his soulfulness with others. It was obvious to those who knew and loved him that he was in poor health when his artistic expression declined.
Seraphim's presence always softened whoever was with him. We were all blessed to have been part of his life on Earth. His peacefulness, gentle manner, honesty, creativity, humility and spirituality will be missed by those who knew him and many who did not. He has a place in the hearts of many people with whom he interacted during his journey in this world. He is survived by his beloved husband of 18 years, Paul Quin and their dog, Luke; his sisters Jane Tan Creti of Omaha, Nebraska and Marge Moore of Worcester, Massachusetts; daughters-in-law Erica and Kate Quin-Easter of Caribou, Maine; and siblings-in-law Michael Tancredi, Pam and Jim Quin of Colonial Village, Colorado, Liesel McCurry of Derwood, Maryland, and Peg (Quin) Goerges, of San Jose, California.
A memorial service will be held in the chapel of the Unitarian Society of Hartford, 50 Bloomfield Ave, Hartford, CT 06105 on Saturday, April 5, 2014. Visitors may greet the family at 2 P.M. The service will start at 3 P.M. and be officiated by Reverend Michael Tan Creti, Seraphim's brother-in-law. Participants will be surrounded by his art installation representing the major religions of the world. He will be buried with his beloved dog, Willy, in a private ceremony at New Skete Monastery.
For three evenings following his death, Paul will welcome friends into the home he and Seraphim created. It will bring peace to share memories of Seraphim with our extended family surrounded by the beauty of his creations. Hours will be 4:30-7:30 P.M.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to New Skete Monastery, P.O. Box 128, Cambridge, New York 12816 or Christ the Savior Orthodox Church, 1070 Roxbury Road, Southbury, Connecticut 06478.
Seraphim Seskevich, 1938-2014
Yet no stone temple, no glass edifice, nor steel construct, no matter how impressive or mighty,could harbor ethereal substance and beauty, conceived only by God, of human ability to express that which is inexpressible.
For Seraphim, whose frailty embodied his strength, no form or barrier prevented his bringing forth the essence of purity and grace through art. To know him was to hardly fathom his powerful talent, embrace his sweet and gentle nature, cherish his humble spirit. These qualities pervaded his craft with such integrity as to transform the conventional into the unparalleled.
Surely he was sent from Heaven. Certainly his lingering aura remains.
And when the angels took him from our midst, the void smote our very being.
Our loss is Heaven's gain, where he now waits for us with open arms.
Edward Zagorski (2014)
Seraphim Seskevich, 75, passed peacefully from this world at home. He will now continue his journey to eternal life. He was a gentle and spiritual man who will always be remembered as a special angel by his friends and family.
Seraphim was born in Worcester, Massachusetts to Julia Seskevich and Royal Tibbetts, raised by Mary Beatrice Seskevich, his grandmother, who was an inspiration to him throughout his life.
His religious life began at an early age. During high school, he studied for priesthood in the Roman Catholic Church. He entered a Franciscan order after a brief time in the Air Force. With eleven other brothers, Seraphim left that order to found and build New Skete Monastery in Cambridge, New York. It was there that he found his spiritual home. He served as shepherd, writer of icons, cook and
builder. His icons still adorn the chapel and grounds. He left New Skete to design church altars and naves. His successful career was cut short when he suffered a stroke at age 35. After three months in a coma, he spent a year in rehabilitation. He always said that his grandmother's ability to continue to live life to the fullest, in spite of her physical challenges, gave him the strength and courage to regain his abilities after the stroke.
Following his stroke, Seraphim studied to train his left hand to continue to create art. He continued his education, receiving a Bachelor's Degree in Fine Arts and a Master's Degree in recreation therapy. For about 10 years, he shared his talents and personal experiences helping individuals with challenges in a variety of settings. While at one facility, he had an accident resulting in circulation difficulties. He then retired and devoted his life full-time to his art.
Seraphim's soul and being were always expressed through his art. From a very young age, he created something each day. His expression took many forms, drawing, painting, sculpture, and embroidery. His art flowed in stages reflecting where his mind and life were at that moment. As his ability to work in one form diminished in recent years, he found new forms of creative expression to share his soulfulness with others. It was obvious to those who knew and loved him that he was in poor health when his artistic expression declined.
Seraphim's presence always softened whoever was with him. We were all blessed to have been part of his life on Earth. His peacefulness, gentle manner, honesty, creativity, humility and spirituality will be missed by those who knew him and many who did not. He has a place in the hearts of many people with whom he interacted during his journey in this world. He is survived by his beloved husband of 18 years, Paul Quin and their dog, Luke; his sisters Jane Tan Creti of Omaha, Nebraska and Marge Moore of Worcester, Massachusetts; daughters-in-law Erica and Kate Quin-Easter of Caribou, Maine; and siblings-in-law Michael Tancredi, Pam and Jim Quin of Colonial Village, Colorado, Liesel McCurry of Derwood, Maryland, and Peg (Quin) Goerges, of San Jose, California.
A memorial service will be held in the chapel of the Unitarian Society of Hartford, 50 Bloomfield Ave, Hartford, CT 06105 on Saturday, April 5, 2014. Visitors may greet the family at 2 P.M. The service will start at 3 P.M. and be officiated by Reverend Michael Tan Creti, Seraphim's brother-in-law. Participants will be surrounded by his art installation representing the major religions of the world. He will be buried with his beloved dog, Willy, in a private ceremony at New Skete Monastery.
For three evenings following his death, Paul will welcome friends into the home he and Seraphim created. It will bring peace to share memories of Seraphim with our extended family surrounded by the beauty of his creations. Hours will be 4:30-7:30 P.M.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to New Skete Monastery, P.O. Box 128, Cambridge, New York 12816 or Christ the Savior Orthodox Church, 1070 Roxbury Road, Southbury, Connecticut 06478.
