Ellie Seymour Passes at 84
Elena A. (Birri) Seymour, 84, of Marlborough, died Saturday, March 23, 2013 at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston after an illness.
Ellie Seymour, matriarch of one of the country’s premier racing families, passed away Saturday at age 84. The widow of the legendary “Boston Louie” Seymour, “Miss Ellie” had an immeasurable influence on three generations of the Marlboro, MA based family.
Married to Louie for 44 years, she leaves behind five children – sons Michael and Bobby and daughters, Marylou Todd, Lois Seymour and Celeste Mikitarian – and eight grandchildren.
“She was always giving,” said Bobby. “It was always about us.”
Northeastern Midget Association President Mike Scrivani Jr. argues it went much further. “She had such an infectious smile,” says Scrivani, a long-time Seymour associate. “You could not help returning that smile. Miss Ellie made you feel good.
“She added a dignity to where ever she was,” Scrivani continues. “She just brought so much with her.”
Whether it was “driving the rig” or staying home and “taking care of business,” Ellie Seymour played a vital role in the accomplishments that put her husband in both the National Sprint Car and New England Antique Racers Halls of Fame. The Seymours were successful in USAC Sprint and Silver Crown cars thought out the country. Mike and Bobby were midget standouts in family equipment, notably with the Northeastern Midget Association.
She was, Bobby recalls “a true quarter midget mom” when her family raced at the Marlboro Airport. “She did pretty much everything,” says Bobby, “whatever was needed from flag person to announcer.” And when travel became part of the operation, she was there as well back in the days when “travelling through the night was standard procedure.”
Sometimes “Miss Ellie” was there when the Seymour cars were racing throughout the Midwest, sometimes as far away as California. “Other times she was home taking care of business,” Bobby continues. “We were in the oil business and that’s where our money came from.”
The Seymour family now operates Seymour Enterprises Performance Products. It was not unusual to see “Miss Ellie” showing up to “do what had to be done.”
“She will be missed,” understates Bobby. That’s true both in Marlboro, MA and in many places where folks will now treasure her memory.
Calling hours will be from 2-to-8 PM on Tuesday at the John Rowe Funeral Home, 57 Main Street in Marlboro. The funeral will be 10 pm on Wednesday at St. Bernadette’s Church 266 Main St., Northborough, MA.
Sources: NEMA PR