Oliver John Selfridge III

John Selfridge, 87, of Manhattan, Kansas passed away Tuesday morning, July 8, 2025 at Meadowlark Hills Community in Manhattan. He was born Oliver John Selfridge III on September 23, 1937 in Wichita, Kansas to Oliver John Selfridge II and Loietta Ives-Selfridge.

In addition to being a loving husband, father, and grandfather, John was a builder whose home was a life-long project! Woodworking was his speciality and he leaves behind many hand-crafted works of art as well as functional items. His workshop still holds a supply of beautiful wood, much of it collected in its natural state, for which he had plans. He was an Eagle Scout whose role as Scout Master introduced many scouts and their families to Dutch oven cooking and camping on the Kansas prairie.

Academically, John held an undergraduate degree in Art History from the University of Kansas, a Master’s in City Planning from Yale University’s School of Architecture, and a Ph.D. in Epidemiology and Public Health from Yale’s School of Medicine.

John joined the faculty of the College of Architecture, Planning & Design at Kansas State University in the fall of 1969 and retired after 39 years of service. Over his decades-long tenure, he played a pivotal role in shaping the college’s curriculum, teaching across multiple disciplines, and mentoring generations of students. He organized the college’s first conference on computers in environmental design, demonstrating his forward-thinking approach to technology and education. After earning his Ph.D. in Epidemiology and Public Health, he taught Building-Related Health & Safety, a critical yet often overlooked topic in design education.

John founded PlainEnergy in the 1970s, a firm dedicated to energy-conscious design and construction, including active and passive solar residences. An active participant in local energy and political community-action groups, he was a founder, board member, and newsletter editor for the Kansas Solar Energy Society.

One of John’s most impactful contributions was the creation of the Community Development Workshop, which provided students with hands-on experience working with senior centers, neighborhood associations, and schools. John’s students built playgrounds for Manhattan-area schools, including the public schools that were attended by his two children and granddaughter.

John is survived by Gail, his wife of 66 years, two children Sabrina and Robin, two grandchildren Tiffany and Max, great grandson Wyatt, and sister Martha Housholder.

John will be cremated in accordance with his wishes. The family plans to have a memorial for John in both Manhattan and Wichita, Kansas and encourages John’s friends, colleagues and students to reach out to RobinSelfridge@hotmail.com to receive details when memorial dates are determined.