Ira Sigel

Worcester - Ira Sigel, 81, of Worcester, passed away early on September 15th with his wife Rhonda (Martin) Sigel by his side. Ira was born in Worcester on June 4, 1942, to Samuel and Helen (Sillman) Sigel as the oldest of 5 children: David (and wife Diane), Susan (and husband Richard Taffet), Rachel (and husband Jeffrey Goldfarb) and Steven (and wife Charlene).

Ira, the most loving and devoted husband, father, and grandfather is survived by his wife, Rhonda, their children Adam (and wife Olga), Seth (and wife Kristin) and Alyssa (and husband Michael) and seven grandchildren Mackenzie, Alyna, Tyler, Tiana, Joel, Megan and Caitlyn. Ira also leaves several nieces and nephews.

After graduating from Classical High School and attending Worcester Junior College, Ira joined in the United States Army during the Vietnam era. Ira took over the family’s painting company as President and expanded into multiple divisions (Millbury Painting, Sigel Painting and I Sigel Painting). At one point, Ira served as Massachusetts President of the Painting Contractors Association. Ira had second career in Wareham, working for Papa Gino’s as well as the Cape Cod Nursing Home.

Ira loved his hometown of Worcester and was a positive and influential presence in the community in many ways. He spent years working (volunteering his time) in leadership positions with Boy Scouts of America (with troops at Blessed Sacrament Church and Temple Emmanuel) where he taught lifelong skills, encouraged community service and became a role model for so many boys during their formative years. He greatly enjoyed his summer camp experiences at Treasure Valley (and smoking "honest" cigars) beside his dear friend Michael Doherty, and was immensely proud of his sons' success in the scouts and their own dedication to service.

He looked for every opportunity to spend quality time with his children, coaching baseball teams (enjoying an undefeated season and championship with Jesse Burkett little league) and he coached basketball teams for United Synagogue Youth (where his van provided home delivery service to his 12 person teams). Wherever he led his teams, he provided instruction, positive support and (above all) critical and meaningful life lessons that transcended his role as coach. The lives that he impacted in Worcester were innumerous.

He was a man that (like so many) enjoyed his toys. He owned a boat for all but the final years of his life and his love of cars (especially from the 1950's) found its way into nearly every conversation that was had at his house during the limitless birthday parties, holiday gatherings, Seders and family "Shindigs" that made him the center of a loving family.

When he wasn't in Worcester, he could be found at the family's cottage in Wareham, where he became an excellent fisherman, a beloved resident and master pier-implementer, in Seattle (where two of his grandchildren reside) or traveling to baseball fields throughout the Commonwealth to watch his grandson "do damage" or even to North Carolina where 4 of his grandchildren resided. Wherever he was, his wife Rhonda (and crush of 55 years) was near his side.

A man full of love, he adored the 3 young boys that lived beside his South Flagg Street home (Alejandro, Matteo and Christian and their parents Gillian and Jorhan), and he will always be remembered as a warm, generous, kind, selfless and affectionate man who was (in many ways) larger than life, who understood what is important and what is not, and impacted every life that he touched.

A memorial service will be held at Congregation Beth Israel at 11:00 am on Tuesday, September 19th.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the CLL Society Inc.,1454 Melrose Ave.,
Ste 1-247, Chula Vista, CA 91911, The ALS Association, P.O. Box 37022, Boone, IA 50037-0022 or Congregation Beth Israel, 15 Jamesbury Drive, Worcester, MA 01609 would be appreciated.