Dr. Selden Campbell Beebe, MD

OBITUARY

Selden Campbell Beebe passed away peacefully on September 26, 2025, at the age of 91, leaving behind a legacy of devotion, healing, adventure, and above all, love for his family.

Born on September 13, 1934, in Porterville, California, to Josephine Campbell Beebe and Dr. Edson Delong Beebe Sr, a physician who practiced in Long Beach and was a significant figure in the city’s medical community and a major influence on Selden’s decision to become a doctor. Selden grew up with a curious mind and a compassionate heart. He graduated from Wilson High School in Long Beach in 1952, earned his undergraduate degree from Stanford University in 1956, and went on to receive his Doctor of Medicine from Boston University School of Medicine in 1962. Before his medical studies at Boston, he married the love of his life, Sheri Ann Gilbert, in Las Vegas on August 9th, 1958. After completing his internship and residency in 1968, they bought their home at 3205 E. 1st Street, where they spent 44 memorable years – holding fundraisers, hosting dinner parties, having dance lessons with friends, and raising a family. With Sheri by his side, these accomplishments set the stage for what would become an extraordinary lifetime of service to children, community, and family.

Selden was a dedicated pediatrician for more than 50 years. Known for his tireless work ethic, gentle demeanor, and unwavering commitment to his young patients and families, he cared for an estimated 200,000 children over the course of his career–comforting new parents, treating generations of families, and touching countless lives throughout Southern California. For many, he was more than a doctor–he was a trusted presence, a steady voice, and a source of reassurance in times of worry.

Selden lived life with enthusiasm and wide-open eyes. His passions were abundant: traveling the world with his wife, Sheri; golfing wherever he could take his clubs; carving fresh tracks on the slopes at Snowmass; having pupus during a Hanalei sunset; watching English Premier League soccer matches with delight; playing countless games of cribbage; and appreciating art in all its forms. He found joy in movement, culture, scenery, and the thrill of discovery.

He was proud of many personal achievements, journeys around the world, cherished time spent in Coto de Caza, building a reputable medical practice in the Long Beach area, and creating a sanctuary, just a coconut’s throw away from the ocean at Hanalei Bay, Kauai. Yet when asked about his greatest pride, his answer was always the same–his wife Sheri and family. Everything else was a distant second.

Selden is survived by his son, Jason Beebe; his daughter, Alecia Bennett; and his beloved grandchildren, Erica Beebe, Shannon Beebe, Jacob Bennett, and Brandon Bennett. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and family man whose warmth, humor, wisdom, and his presence will be profoundly missed.

A celebration of his life will be held on Thursday, March 12, 2026, from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM at Old Ranch Country Club in Seal Beach, California. Family, friends, colleagues, and former patients are welcome to gather, share stories, and honor a man who gave so much of himself to others.

Selden’s life was one measured not in years alone, but in children comforted, families strengthened, miles traveled, memories made, and love shared. His legacy will live on in the hearts of those he healed and the family he cherished most.