‘We just knew!’ Meet the inseparable duo who became BFFs at 80+!

Ellen Futterman, Editor-in-Chief

Published December 18, 2024

Hearing about Linda Concors and Nancy Seidel’s budding best friendship underscores my hope that no matter the age, you’re never too old to make another treasured bestie.

The two met after Linda and her husband, Jerry, moved into Brookdale Senior Living in Creve Coeur about six months ago, where Nancy and her husband, Herb, have lived for a year.

“We sat down at a table for dinner not knowing each other and just hit it off,” said Nancy, 89, a Temple Israel congregant.

Linda Concors (left) and Nancy Seidel. (Ellen Futterman)

“We clicked through conversation, and we knew,” added Linda, 84, who belongs to Central Reform Congregation and United Hebrew.

As a friendship deepened between the two and they bonded over a shared love of bridge, both were struck by many mutual coincidences. For example, their mothers were both named Jennie. Linda has a son named David and his son (Linda’s grandson) is named Brett while Nancy has a son named Brett David.

Nancy’s son Brett and Linda have the same birthday, Oct. 25. Linda’s granddaughter Samantha and Nancy have the same birthday, Oct. 30.

The two have daughters-in-law named Kim. Both Nancy and Linda sold real estate and have wedding anniversaries in November.

And both came to live at Brookdale because their adult children insisted on it.

“I fell and broke a couple of bones, and my children took over,” said Nancy, chuckling at the recollection. “They got rid of our condo and sent us here. I had no choice, but I am so glad they did.”

Similarly, Linda’s son and daughter-in-law were adamant that she and Jerry move to an independent living facility.

“I had fallen and fractured my femur,” said Linda. “I fall very often. If I have nothing going on, I fall. And my husband falls. We’re both in very good health, thank goodness, but my son travels. He was afraid if there was a problem he wouldn’t be around, so we were pushed.”

While Linda admits she wasn’t ready to move, she likes Brookdale very much, especially since she has made a best friend in Nancy. Both believe their meeting was bashert.

“It’s so fulfilling to know you have somebody,” said Nancy. “I can tell Linda anything and I know it won’t go anywhere else and vice versa.”

Linda says meeting Nancy was “an unexpected treat.”

“When you move into a community like this, I think it’s surprising to find somebody who you want to be best friends with at this stage of your life,” she continued. “It made the transition much easier and much more enjoyable.”

About the Contributor

Ellen Futterman, Editor-in-Chief

A native of Westbury, New York, Ellen Futterman broke into the world of big city journalism as a general assignment reporter for the Los Angeles Herald-Examiner in the latter part of the 20th century. Deciding that Tinsel Town was not exciting enough for her, she moved on to that hub of glamour and sophistication, Belleville, Ill., where she became a feature writer, columnist and food editor for the Belleville News-Democrat. A year later the St. Louis Post-Dispatch scooped her up, neither guessing at the full range of her talents, nor the extent of her shoe collection. She went on to work at the Post-Dispatch for 25 years, during which time she covered hard news, education, features, investigative projects, profiles, sports, entertainment, fashion, interiors, business, travel and movies. She won numerous major local and national awards for her reporting on "Women Who Kill" and on a four-part series about teen-age pregnancy, 'Children Having Children.'" Among her many jobs at the newspaper, Ellen was a columnist for three years, Arts and Entertainment Editor, Critic-at-large and Daily Features (Everyday) Editor. She invented two sections from scratch, one of which recently morphed from Get Out, begun in 1995, to GO. In January of 2009, Ellen joined the St. Louis Jewish Light as its editor, where she is responsible for overseeing editorial operations, including managing both staff members and freelancers. Under her tutelage, the Light has won 16 Rockower Awards — considered the Jewish Pulitzer’s — including two personally for Excellence in Commentary for her weekly News & Schmooze column. She also is the communications content editor for the Arts and Education Council of St. Louis. Ellen and her husband, Jeff Burkett, a middle school principal, live in Olivette and have three children. Ellen can be reached at 314-743-3669 or at [email protected].