hey buddy. i remember when we usta joke around with Avalon and make fun of Cheryl. and youd come to my shows and offer for me to stay at your apartment for the night. and you gave me an inflatable unicorn horn once. you tried downloading my bands music, but got the name wrong and didnt want to tell me cuz you hated the band you downloaded instead of mine. there was the funny t shirt websites we’d check out. there was lunch bunch. there was the great “free hot dogs” debacle in downtown Bothell. but then you just bought us all donuts cuz you felt bad we didnt get free hot dogs. cuz thats just who you were and who you are to me. O RLY?  ……..xo my friend. 

Salem was the first person I met and talked from UW Bothell when I came for my campus visit and interview. He gave me a tour of the entire campus. We walked the baseball field, the marsh, coffee shop, the production spaces. He showed me the library, IT room, etc. Ever since he was my go-to guy in all things IT and media. He also had good insights as to how things were done (or not done) at UW Bothell, and helped me have realistic expectations. He was kind enough to give me his personal phone number so I could reach him for questions. Salem was kind. He helped me overcome bureaucratic headaches with a sense of humor. Often I was honest with him about some issues I noticed. He was always there to listen and give me advice. I regret that I could not help him in the same way. 

One of the space he took me during the first campus tour was the Usability Studio area. Immediately I noticed it was an incomplete space. Now that the school is gearing up to finish the space to be  our media production area, I wonder if we can find a way to honor his memory permanently. 

Sending heartfelt condolences to Salem's friends and family.  It was an honor to work with Salem over many years at UWB and I am deeply saddened by his passing. I had the privilege of working closely with Salem since 2012 in his capacity on the Learning Technologies team to support classes in the Digital Media Lab. Salem was such a positive spirit and would gladly share his technical expertise to support students in their work. Whether it was doing an impromptu demo for lighting in video projects in my class or a tutorial for Adobe AfterEffects for our Interactive Media Design students, he approached each interaction with positivity, kindness, and passion. Salem was a "yes" person - he had an open-heart and would rise up to any challenges with a smile and grace. I also considered Salem a friend and it always made my day better when I saw him on campus. He is very much missed. My thoughts are with his family and everyone who had the privilege of knowing him.

I'm saddened to hear of Salem's passing. He was a great teacher. I worked very closely with him . He came to my classes to provide support to my students on digital projects. Salem was always available to sort any of my teaching technology issues. He was kind, generous, calm and full of knowledge. I will miss Salem as a valued colleague. UW Bothell lost a gem!

Those of us fortunate enough to work with Salem appreciated his dedication and kindness. May his memory be a blessing.

I am so deeply saddened by Salem's passing - he was a kind and generous soul who made a positive impact on countless lives. Back in 2020 when I got the hair-brained idea to create a podcast, I was clueless about how to proceed. Salem stepped forward to offer help, walking me through the process of learning the right software, getting the right equipment, and editing my recordings. He would respond on evenings and weekends, and it became clear that his passion for music and sound recordings was something he loved sharing with others. He absolutely went above & beyond what anyone would expect from our UWB staff... it felt much more like getting help from a generous friend than someone who was just "doing their job."  I've taught at UWB for 14 years and Salem was the person I always felt most comfortable reaching out to for help in the class when we needed troubleshooting. No matter what was going on, he showed up  in the room with a smile and a friendly word. I miss his presence on our campus.

It was devastating to learn of Salem's passing, but I will always think of him when I share this podcast with my students and colleagues (here's the finished series, btw: https://open.spotify.com/show… . This would have been an absolute mess without Salem!) I will always remember him fondly.  My deepest condolences to his family, friends, colleagues and everyone else who loved him. I know that's a lot of people. 

- Jennifer Atkinson 

Salem, thank you for always bringing humor and generosity into the UWB community. You were valued and treasured by so many, and you are missed.  Wherever you are, I wish you comfort and lots of kitty love.  Tami

Salem, You will always be a bright light in my heart. You brought sheer love and beauty into my life and I thank you for that and will always be grateful. You taught me so much about life and I am proud to carry that with me. I will be donating items to the adoption center where we found Button in honor of you. Thank you for bringing him into our lives. Without your determination in getting to the front door that day to be first in line, I don't know if we would have adopted him. I wish you peace, Salem. CB

You were such a good friend and colleague from the time I arrived at UW Bothell and would never waiver at the opportunity to share your knowledge and help. I will always miss our deep conversations and your fun sense of humor. 

Sending love, hugs and comforting energy  to you and your family!

We are so sorry for your loss. 

Nikki, Iam so very sorry for all that your family as gone through ! Know that you are in my prayers daily! Love you so very much! 

Such a huge void left by a man who was so kind and so loving. I adored him. I loved him. I will always miss him. I am so very sorry for all of us.