Martha Ulfelder Seeley

Publication

MaryESeelye
SEELEY, MARTHA ULFELDER (Age 83)
On Wednesday, February 20, 2002, at her home in McLean, Virginia, after a long illness. Mother of Jack of Great Falls, Maggie of San Diego, California, and Julie of Falls Church. Also survived by her sister Ruth Covo of Mexico City, four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. A memorial celebration of her life will be held on Friday, March 1, 2002 at 2 p.m. at the McLean Project for the Arts located in the McLean Community Center, 1234 Ingleside Avenue, McLean, Virginia. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to a charity of the donor's choice.

Published in The Washington Post from 2/27/2002 - 3/6/2002.


Publication

Martha Seeley, 83, of McLean, Dies

Martha Ulfelder Seeley, 83, a long-time resident of McLean, Va., and one of the founding partners of West Group, died Feb. 20, at her home in McLean after a long illness.

Mrs. Seeley was born in Mexico City in 1918, the youngest of four children born to Dr. Sidney and Ethel H. Ulfelder. A surgeon, her father helped to found the American British Coudrey Hospital in Mexico City. In 1925, the family purchased the 512 acre Maplewood Farm in McLean, in order to have a home in the United States, where the children could attend school. Mrs. Seeley’s childhood was spent between her family’s home in Mexico City and McLean.

Her first husband John N. Poro, died in Portugal in 1943, while serving with the U.S. Army. She married Col. Rudolph G. Seeley in 1949. Together they took over the operation of Maplewood, the family dairy farm. The farm later was developed into West*Gate and West*Park office parks. After her husband’s death in 1988, Mrs. Seeley served as a general partner, secretary and a member of the board of directors of West*Gate, and a general partner of West*Park. A lifelong interest in the arts led to her participation in local theatrical programs as well as the McLean Arts Club, with a particular interest in pottery. She and her late husband supported the Fairfax Symphony, the McLean Orchestra and Wolf Trap Farm Park. Other support included the Virginia 4H Center in Hume, Va., Hospice of Northern Virginia; and numerous animal welfare organizations. She was a major contributor to the McLean Project for the Arts (MPA) and a co-chair of its first capital fund drive. The Rudolph G. Seeley Learning Center at the MPA was named in honor of her late husband.

Mrs. Seeley is survived by her two daughters; Julie of Falls Church and Maggie of San Diego, Calif.; her son Jack, of Great Falls; four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Interment was private. There was a memorial celebration of her life on March 1, at the Emerson Gallery at the McLean Project for the Arts. Donations in her name may be made to the charity of your choice.

Published in unidentified and undated obituary donated to the Seeley Genealogical Society Research Center