Michael Seidman, Former Assistant DA – Class of January 1960
After graduating from Southern in January of 1960 Mike enrolled at Penn State where he graduated in December 1963. He had already been accepted into Temple Law School’s class starting in September of 1964 and so Mike became a long-term substitute teacher at BOK.
Mike started his legal career working for an attorney with offices at 15th and Snyder Avenue. The opportunity arose to become an Assistant District Attorney under then DA Arlen Specter. Mike spent 4 years in the DA’s office becoming a member of the Major Trials Unit while also becoming Chief of the Obscenity Division where he was active in the pursuit of helping change the Pennsylvania statute on the law as it then existed.
After leaving the DA’s office, he entered the private practice of law concentrating on criminal defense. Mike practiced law for over 30 years until retiring but he continued consulting after retiring and kept as active as he could to keep himself immersed in the work that he loved.
In 1997 Mike wrote a novel entitled A Different Point of View which followed the trajectory of his life: growing up on Passyunk Avenue to his career as an attorney, a career-ending trauma following an accident and his subsequent recovery. He self-published the novel in 2003.
Upon turning 75, Mike realized that he needed to do something to maintain his ability to concentrate and keep his brain active. So, he decided to take up acting so that he would have to memorize lines and interact with others. Mike first appeared as a Roman Cardinal in a documentary that appeared on CNN having to do with the Papacy during the 12th century. He has appeared in a number of short film projects for film school students in the colleges in our area and has also appeared in a number of feature length films for some of the independent film makers in Philadelphia and was an extra in 2 major motion pictures as well as appearing in an internet commercial for AARP. Mike continues to apply for roles and commercials to keep active. He is happy to say that he is ecstatic about his senior citizen status and life with Harriet. He lives only 14 blocks north of where he was born and raised.