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John Leasing Selling ’37

John Leasing Selling ’37, January 23, 2010, in Monroe, Washington. John was the grandson of Ben Selling, highly regarded businessman, politician, philanthropist, and social advocate, who built Portland’s historic Selling Building, designed by A.E. Doyle, in 1911. John’s father, physician Laurence Selling, was cofounder of the Portland Clinic, and his mother, Adelaide Selling, established the Selling Family Scholarship at Reed. John left the college after two years and worked in the wholesale grocery business. He also served in World War II. He and Carol Sanier ’44 married in 1945 and had three children. He later married Lenore Friedman. John found his calling as a real estate broker. He received the professional achievement award from the Institute of Real Estate Management and taught commercial and industrial real estate at Mt. Hood Community College and Portland State University for a decade. He traveled extensively throughout the U.S. and abroad for real estate training and conferences, and enjoyed camping and cooking his special barbecue. In his public obituary, we read that he was a vibrant, inquisitive, and giving person—a participant in life, not a spectator. He was perpetually optimistic and demonstrated a willingness to take on new challenges throughout his life. Survivors include his wife, Lenore; his daughter and two sons; two grandchildren; and his sister, Margaret Selling Labby ’40. His brother, Philip Selling ’35, predeceased him.

Appeared in Reed magazine: March 2012

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