Dr. Paul M. Selinkoff

Paul Matthew Selinkoff lived a life that touched thousands—as a teacher of medicine, skilled surgeon, community leader, and thoughtful mentor. He passed away peacefully among family on June 14, 2025, just three weeks after his 81st birthday, after battling and beating liver and bone cancer and then fighting Parkinson’s Disease.

Paul lived a rich and joyful life full of music, friendships, fishing, great food, travel, and, above all, family. His boundless curiosity, relentless thirst for knowledge, and deep sense of service were hallmarks of his character and values he instilled in his children and grandchildren.

He was born on May 19, 1944, in Panama, where his father, Dr. Joshua Jesse Selinkoff, was stationed in the Canal Zone as a doctor with the U.S. Army during WWII, accompanied by Paul’s mother, Lillian Weiner Selinkoff Robertson. Upon his birth, a local nurse after a long review of the new baby, remarked on Paul’s long skinny legs and big ears, declaring, “He sure does look smart!” That early observation turned out to be prescient.

After the untimely passing of his father when Paul was just 11, he took on the role of man of the house for his younger brother, Richard, and mother. He graduated from Mt. Pleasant High School in Wilmington, Delaware, and went on to attend MIT and later the University of Delaware, where he was a proud member of Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity. Paul earned his medical degree from Thomas Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia.

Drafted during the Vietnam War, Paul was instead stationed by the U.S. Air Force in Italy with his first wife Carol and their young children, Jessica and Aaron. He cherished his time in Italy—clam bakes on the Adriatic, exploring Europe in his orange Fiat convertible, taking photos for the San Vito dei Normanni Air Station photography club, and learning the joys of Italian cooking. His signature Zuppa di Pesce was born in those years, perfected over time, and always spectacular.

Paul continued his service in the Air Force, completing his surgical residency at the Cleveland Clinic before serving at Luke Air Force Base in Phoenix and later at Wilford Hall Medical Center at Lackland AFB in San Antonio. At Wilford Hall, he discovered a passion for training the next generation of surgeons at the USAF’s only Level 1 trauma hospital at that time. He developed innovative bariatric procedures and was honored with several awards, including the Air Force Achievement Medal, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, National Defense Service Medal, and a Service Award with two bronze oak leaf clusters. He retired as a Lieutenant Colonel.

Paul remained in San Antonio and entered private practice as a general surgeon. He was a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, a member of the San Antonio Surgical Society and National Bariatric Society and served as Chief of Staff at Methodist Hospital San Antonio. He also co-founded and was a director of Bexar PAC, which served as a vehicle for local doctors to support judicial candidates who would support physicians and patient care.

A lifelong lover of music, Paul played the piano, French horn, banjo, and guitar. He could masterfully perform songs by Lead Belly, Tom Lehrer, and Bob Dylan—but his children favored his classical and flamenco guitar. He passed on a love of classical music, opera, bluegrass, folk, outlaw country, and rock and roll to his children.

Even greater than his love for music was his passion for fishing. Whether from piers or boats, solo or with friends and family, Paul fished at every opportunity—bass and catfish in the Texas Hill Country, redfish in the Gulf, barracuda in Mexico, trout in Idaho, salmon in British Columbia, and tarpon in Costa Rica. On one especially harrowing trip to Costa Rica, he and wife Linda nearly lost their lives in a boating accident in shark-infested waters—but even that couldn’t stop Paul from future fishing adventures. He often said, “That’s why it’s called fishing and not catching,” a reminder that the joy was in the experience.

An insatiable reader, Paul was a regular at Half Price Books and always had several books in progress—on nightstands, coffee tables, and even in his car. In his final weeks, he was still besting his children and grandchildren in spirited games of Jeopardy!

Paul’s greatest gift may have been his sense of humor. He loved a clever turn of phrase and an off-color joke, and his infectious laugh brought joy to every room. He also had a soft spot for dogs—sharing his life with beloved companions Jake, Brownie, Nibbles, Dascher, Melon (Collie Baby), Slinky, Gwyneth, and Lucy.

Paul is survived by his wife Linda; daughter Jessica; son Aaron; stepdaughters April and Crystal; and grandchildren Audrey, Elias, Garrett, Mason, Zachary, Tanner, Brady, and Peyton. He is also remembered by his beloved cousins and their families, the countless patients he cared for, lifelong friends, and the many friends of his children who he saw as and who saw him as family.

A memorial service will take place on Wednesday, June 25, 2025, at 9:30 a.m., at Porter Loring Mortuary, 1101 McCullough Avenue, San Antonio, Texas. Interment with Military Honors will follow in Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, 1520 Harry Wurzbach Road, San Antonio, Texas, 78209 at 11:00 AM.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Paul’s memory to Warriors & Quiet Waters, which helps combat veterans find peace and healing through fishing, or the Parkinson’s Foundation, supporting research and resources for those affected by the disease.