Dr. John Selner listened to and empathized with his patients

Betsy Lehndorff, Rocky Mountain News

Monday, July 31, 2006

Dr. John Selner, a specialist in allergy and immunology, had a special empathy with his patients. Because of his own childhood allergies, "he was much more compassionate and sympathetic to those who did not enjoy great health," said his wife, Joan Selner. "When someone came in with a problem that wasn't readily identifiable, he was a wonderful detective and investigated it. He listened."

After a brief hospitalization, Dr. Selner died July 20 at his home from complications brought on by Parkinson's disease. He was 70.

During his 29-year-career as a doctor, he cared for thousands of children and adults, operating an office at 5800 E. Evans Ave. and several satellite clinics across the metro area. He also taught, conducted research and was a clinical professor at the University of Colorado, his wife said.

As a result of his research, he published more than 100 papers in his field. In 1983 he founded the Aspen Allergy Conference, now named after him, and served as president of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology from 1992 to 1993.

Dr. Selner was born Feb. 5, 1936, in Binghamton, N.Y., the son of Joseph Selner and Loretta Canty Selner. His father was a shoe salesman; his mother, a homemaker.

In 1953, he met his future wife, Joan Ketchum, while both were working at a youth camp in the Finger Lakes region of New York state. Marriage had to wait until he had advanced his education. He majored in science at the University of Notre Dame, then studied medicine at the Stritch School of Medicine at Loyola University in Chicago. Halfway through, he and his wife married on Aug. 13, 1960, in Clyde, N.Y.

After his internship at St. Elizabeth's Hospital in Youngstown, Ohio, Dr. Selner served a two-year residency in pediatrics at the University of Oregon Health Sciences Center. In 1965, he accepted a two- year fellowship at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center.

"We had lived in places with terrible winters and snow up to your waist, so he was excited to be somewhere he had never been before," Joan Selner said. After he completed his fellowship, he opened his own practice, eventually maintaining a central office on East Evans Avenue. He also was on the faculty at National Jewish Hospital.

The father of five, Dr. Selner was dedicated to the education of children. For eight years, from the late 1970s to the early 1980s, he ran a program called The Endless Conversation at St. Vincent de Paul School in Denver. At first, the curriculum was meant to be sex education, but he turned it into a life-studies program for children in grades 2 through 8.

"He brought in doctors and lawyers and janitors, babies, blind children and the disabled, and everyone would talk," his wife said. "He wanted the kids to realize there were people different from them, but it was nothing to be afraid of."

In 1996, Dr. Selner had to retire after being diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. "The hardest thing he ever had to do was quit work because he missed his patients tremendously."

To keep busy, Dr. Selner spent his time writing, gardening and polishing rocks. He also enjoyed being with his 13 grandchildren.

Survivors include his wife; daughters Susan Selner-Right, Mary Beth O'Hagan and Amy Brustkern, all of Denver; sons Daniel of Denver and Peter of Cannon Beach, Ore.; brothers David of Denver and Michael of Plano, Texas; sisters Dorothy Stevens of Valencia, Pa., and Patricia Thomas of Endwell, N.Y.; and grandchildren.

Overflowing crowds attended a Rosary and told stories about Dr. Selner on Tuesday at Horan and McConaty Family Chapel. A funeral Mass was held at St. Vincent de Paul Church on Wednesday, followed by burial at Fairmount Cemetery.

The family suggests contributions to the John C. Selner Scholarship Fund at Arrupe Jesuit High School, 4343 Utica St., Denver CO 80212.

lehndorffb@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-892-2792.