"The Collecter of Bedford Street", Larry Selman, who raised over $300 000 for various charities $1 or $2 at a time has died of heart failure. He was 70 years old.
Selman's devotion to giving back to society led to a documentary being filmed about his life which was nominated for an Oscar. The filmmakers had plenty of material to work with - Selman used to give the keys to his Greenwhich Village apartment to local homeless people so they could get off the streets of New York. He also used to raise money for charity by approaching people on the streets of "The Village" one at a time asking for donations of $1 or $2.
His generosity almost got him into trouble when fellow tennants of his apartment block tried to have him evicted when they found there building inundated with homeless New Yorkers. Selman was used to things mot going his way though, so he was never evicted. Things weren't going Selman's way from the day he was born, he weighed only 3 pounds and wasn't expected to survive, then at 16 one of his high school teachers explained to him that he would probably never graduate because he was "mentally retarded." When his uncle, who had supported him after the death of both of his parents died, he considered suicide. And his troubles didn't end there, he was diagnosed with diabetes and even his cat got diabetes.
Larry Selman was knocked down a long way and often, but he kept on getting back up, dusting himself off and getting on with it.
A life well lived.
A life well lived.
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