Obituary of Howard Selinger

Howard “Howie” Selinger, beloved husband, father, grandfather, and friend, passed away on April 21, 2026, at the age of 75. A longtime resident of Denver, Colorado, Howard leaves behind a legacy defined by his devotion to family, his distinguished career in psychology, and a love of golf that took him around the world.

Born on December 28, 1950, in Long Branch, New Jersey, Howard was the firstborn son of Helen and Julius Selinger. From an early age, his exceptional mind was evident — he skipped two grades in elementary school and enrolled at Columbia College at just 16 years old, where he played varsity golf and worked in sports broadcasting. He went on to earn his PhD in clinical psychology from the University of Connecticut in 1975.

It was during a graduate school internship in Denver that Howard met the love of his life, Marilyn Strachman. They married in 1974, just nine months after meeting, and built a life together that would become the foundation of everything Howard held dear.

Howard began his career as a psychologist at Cherry Creek High School, and he soon transitioned to a private practice that he would sustain for more than 50 years. In 1980, he became chairman of the Colorado Psychological Ethics and Peer Review Committee, a role that reflected both his professional standing and his deep commitment to the integrity of his field. He remained semi-retired until the end, continuing to work with longtime patients who he refused to leave behind. Those patients, in turn, never forgot him — it was not uncommon for them to seek out Howard's family simply to express how profoundly he had changed their lives. His success as a therapist came from a rare combination of scholarly mastery and genuine human warmth.

Outside of his practice, Howard's greatest joy was his family. He was a devoted husband to Marilyn and a deeply dedicated father. His love extended fully to his 3 grandsons, who knew him as a steady, caring presence and a living example of what it means to work hard and treat others with kindness and generosity. 

Howard is survived by his wife, Marilyn Selinger; his children, Gil (Lauren) Selinger and Maia (Josh) Sidon; his grandchildren, Rahm and Zev Selinger and Myer Sidon; his sister, Sandi (Howard) Edelstein of NJ; and his brother, Ed (Linda Kames) Bauman. He was preceded in death by his brother, Neil (Rima Grad) Selinger.

A service will be held on Friday, April 24, at 10:30 a.m. at Temple Emanuel. A livestream will be available on the Feldman Mortuary YouTube channel. Interment will follow at Rose Hill Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Temple Emanuel, JEWISHcolorado, or the ACLU.