Dr. Ross Selvidge Dead at 76

Longtime Pasadena resident Dr. Ross S. Selvidge, who served the city where he grew up in many ways over his storied civic career, is dead at 76.

Selvidge died Friday, according to a statement by the Burbank Glendale Pasadena Airport Authority, reportedly after a long illness.

At the time of his death, Selvidge was representing Pasadena on the Airport Authority Board. Selvidge was first appointed to the Airport Authority in July 2015 and served terms as its President, Vice President and Secretary.

Selvidge was recently active in the Measure L campaign supporting the extension of an existing tax for Pasadena property owners that provides approximately 20% of the Pasadena library system’s revenues.

Reacting to news of Selvidge’s death,  Acting Pasadena Library Director Tim McDonald said “Ross Selvidge was a man of great integrity, reason, and influence in the community.”

“As chair of the Pasadena Public Library Future Funding Task Force, Ross was one of the original architects of Pasadena’s special library tax, which was designed to ensure the high level of library services enjoyed by residents. His knowledge and commitment will be sorely missed,” McDonald said.

Selvidge was also a former Pasadena Planning Commissioner and a former Board Member of the Rose Bowl Operating Company.

“Ross was a classic Pasadena story, who served our country and our community with dignity,” said Mayor Victor Gordo. “On behalf of the City Council and the entire Pasadena community, we are saddened by the news of Ross’s passing.”

“Ross served in many capacities including library committees, the Rose Bowl Operating Company and was our representative to the Airport Authority. Former Mayors Bogaard and Tornek respectively called upon him to serve on several short and long-term committees and I recently appointed him to continue as my representative on the airport commission. Ross grew up in Pasadena and attended local schools and never stopped dedicating his life to serving our city.  I admired him personally and professionally and he will be missed.  I will ask we adjourn Monday night’s Council meeting in his memory.”

Two former Pasadena mayors also had praise for Selvidge.

“Ross was a remarkable person, incredibly intellectual, analytical and the guy I’d go to to help me figure things out,” former Mayor Terry Tornek remembered. “He has an amazing resume of service to the city and I am proud to have called him a good friend. Maria and I are here to support his family and although he quietly served our city he will always be recognized for his achievements and making a big impact on everything he touched.”

Former Mayor Bill Bogaard pointed to how Selvidge’s financial expertise had benefitted Pasadena and the organizations Selvidge served.

“Pasadena has suffered a sad loss with the passing of Ross S. Selvidge, who used his expertise in finance and economics to benefit the City in many ways, including the City budget, the Rose Bowl, the Burbank Glendale Pasadena Airport, and Pasadena City College,” Bogaard said. “Over 20 years ago, Ross participated in the formation the Public Library Tax Assessment which enables the Pasadena  Library even today to be the municipal department people turn to first for  library resources of all kinds.  He was justifiably proud of his service in the U.S. Navy.  All of Pasadena owes Ross Selvidge a debt of gratitude.”

Selvidge also served as a Pasadena City College Trustee representing District 1.

“Dr. Selvidge served as Pasadena City College Trustee for five years representing La Cañada, West Pasadena, and Northwest Altadena. As a proud graduate of both PCC and the University of Southern California, Dr. Selvidge believed in the transformational power of higher education and advocated for education quality on behalf of our students and faculty,” PCC Board President Sandra Chen Lau said. “The PCC community mourns the loss of its fellow Lancer and we extend our deep condolences to the Selvidge family.”  

Pasadena City College Superintendent/President Erika Endrijonas called Selvidge a trusted public servant and a dedicated supporter of Pasadena City College. 

“His fiscal stewardship and commitment to the future of this institution were borne out in his service on the board Budget and Audit Committee and the Measure P Bond Oversight Committee. Dr. Selvidge would often reminisce about his days as an athlete at PCC, and it was clear his heart was always on campus. We send our thoughts to his family and friends during this difficult time,” Endrijonas told Pasadena Now.

Selvidge attended the Pasadena Unified School District, graduating from John Muir High School, then attended PCC where he was a Lancer gymnast, and earned degrees in Architecture, Systems Management and a Ph.D. in Finance at USC.

Selvidge served 27 years in the U.S. Navy — including four years on active duty — retiring from the Naval Civil Engineer Corps at the rank of Commander. While serving with the Seabees in Vietnam and during the construction of the Qui Nohn Airport, Selvidge was wounded in action. 

He became the first person to wear the Navy’s Seabee Combat Warfare Specialist badge, which he designed.

After the military, Selvidge worked as a consultant on private- and public-sector projects. In 2013, when he was running for the PCC District 1 Trustee seat, Selvidge told Pasadena Now that he had more than 35 years of experience in real estate finance and economics, fiscal and economic analysis, asset management, public/private partnerships/joint ventures and infrastructure financing.

Selvidge said at the time that he had more than 15 years of experience as a part-time faculty member at USC, teaching undergraduate and graduate courses in real estate finance and investment analysis. He also has lectured on those topics at UCLA and Pepperdine University.

Additional details and arrangements are pending.