Marion Salinger

1917 - 2017

Marion Casting Salinger

May 22, 1917 - August 28, 2017

Durham

Longtime Durham resident Marion C. Salinger, 100, died August 28 under the care of her daughters and Blue Ridge Hospice in Winchester, Virginia.

Marion Casting Salinger was born May 22, 1917 in Buffalo, NY to George and Mary (Knopf) Casting. She began her studies in English and Journalism at the University of Buffalo, and majored in Germanic Languages and Literature at the University of Wisconsin.

A Durham resident since 1955, Mrs. Salinger was married in 1941 to Dr. Herman Salinger, former department chair of German and Comparative Literature at Duke University. Mrs. Salinger was for many years administrator for Duke University's international programs and grants, where she organized seminars and workshops abroad for university faculty members and public school teachers. Her particular interest was in Canadian Studies, and in 1985 she was awarded the Donner Medal for distinguished service to Canadian Studies in the U.S. Mrs. Salinger also focused on the field of forest resources pertaining to Canada and the U.S., for which she had many publications to her credit.

Citations to civic and academic endeavors include the Silver Medallion as Woman of Distinction by the YWCA (1986); NC Council of Social Studies Great Influence Award (1990); the Duke University Exemplary Mentor Award (1992) and the Award of Merit of the U.S.I.A. Nat'l Council for International Visitors (1993). She served as Executive Director of the Southern Atlantic States Assn. for Asian & African Studies; President, Triangle Chapter, Society for International Development; Trustee, Southeast Consortium for Int'l Development; and was past state President of P.E.O., an international philanthropic and educational organization. Mrs. Salinger was a longtime parishioner of St. Stephen's Episcopal Church; she and her family were among its founding members.

Surviving are her three daughters, Jill Salinger Winter of Leesburg, Virginia; Wendy Lang Salinger of New York City, NY; Jennifer Salinger Duffy of Oxford, Pennsylvania; and her grandchildren, Mary Fitzgerald Duffy (Kysela), Caitlin Salinger Duffy (Hall), and Liam Patrick Duffy. Her husband predeceased her in 1983.

A funeral liturgy will be offered on Monday, September 25th at 2:00 p.m. from St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, with the Rev'd Robert Kaynor officiating. Burial will follow in the churchyard. The family will receive friends at a reception following the service in the church Fellowship Hall. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Marion's memory may be made to St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, 82 Kimberly Drive, Durham, NC 27707 or to The P.E.O. International Peace Scholarship Fund, 3700 Grand Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50312. Arrangements are with Hall-Wynne Funeral Service.