Obituaries

Edelhard Otto Sedat

Edelhard Otto Sedat died May 17 at The Shores at Peconic Landing in Greenport, where he had resided since 2003. He was 87.

He was born in Germany March 12, 1925, to Meta (Szekat) and Otto Sedat. He earned a B.A. from City College of New York and an M.A. from Columbia University. His concentration was in history, education and administration.

During World War II, from October 1943 to March 1946, Mr. Sedat served in the U.S. Army in the Pacific Theater, Saipan and New Caledonia, attaining the rank of sergeant first class. He returned from the war and married his fiancée, Dorothy, in 1947 at First Presbyterian Church of Springfield Gardens in Queens.

He worked for many years at Sewanhaka High School in Floral Park, where he taught American history, then became chairman of the history department, assistant principal and principal. He later became assistant superintendent and ultimately superintendent of Sewanhaka Central High School District until his retirement in 1985. During this time, he lived with his family in Hempstead and Oyster Bay.

Family members said Mr. Sedat was very involved in church work and community activities. He was a knowledgeable and respected horticulturist, they said, and volunteered at Old Westbury Gardens and Planting Fields Arboretum, where, in a commercial-sized greenhouse built for him, he raised plant material to be sold in the Arboretum Shop. He enjoyed camping with his family across the United States and Canada, they said, and after retiring he and his wife traveled through Europe and exchanged homes with families in England, France, Switzerland, Hawaii and New Zealand.

Mr. Sedat is survived by his wife of 64 years; his son, Robert, of Niantic, Conn.; his daughter, Karen, of Cambridge, Mass.; two grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Arrangements were handled by Horton-Mathie Funeral Home in Greenport. A funeral service was held May 18 at Calverton National Cemetery, the Rev. Peter Kelly officiating, followed by interment.

Donations may be made to First Presbyterian Church of Southold.