Michael Salinger

February 3rd, 2023

Dr. Michael Salinger was one of the masters of international cardiology and structural heart interventions. I was one of his former fellows and learned so much from him. Mike was an excellent teacher, absolute gentleman, amazing human being. I was shocked with this news. Dear Mike, you will always be missed.

~Mehmet Cilingiroglu
~His fellow and friend, San Diego, CA

December 29th, 2021

Dear Kathy and family,

Please accept my delayed condolences on learning of Mike’s untimely passing three months ago. I join my colleagues at Evanston Hospital in mourning the loss of my dear student who went on to become my dear colleague and zoomed onward to become my dear teacher in the Department of Cardiology, not to mention a very wonderful friend who came to the rescue of many, many of my patients from life-threatening cardiac events.

Just as he is your hero, he is my hero.

Ira Weiss MD

~Ira Weiss
~colleague, Skokie IL

September 30th, 2021

When I arrived at MCW from Mayo, I didn’t think I would ever find a kindred spirit in Interventional Cardiology the way that I had enjoyed working with Hall of Famers like Chet Rihal and David Holmes. The first few times I operated with Mike it was like he was coming down from some higher league that I didn’t even know about. He was always so generous with his encouragement and praise. I’ve never been more proud than when Mike complimented me on my skill as a surgeon because he was someone whose opinion really mattered. He understood my craft the way a great artist looks at a young painter. As a research collaborator he was brilliant. We are currently preparing for a meeting with the FDA on the Hoplon system, and we’ve been struggling to come up with a name for the catheters that we’ve been developing. This past week there was a universal consensus that there was only one name to consider: The Salinger. He had such a great sense of humor and was so good at sorting out complicated cases in a way that was as entertaining as it was genius. He was such a good man, and it is so hard to lose him.

~David Joyce
~Friend, Business Partner, and Colleague, Mequon

September 30th, 2021

Dear Salinger Family,

Deepest and heartfelt condolences on your loss. While Mike and I knew of each other professionally for a number of years, it was about 8 years ago that we came to recognize our deeper connections- growing up in Morton Grove, college at NU, med school at Loyola, yet the most amazing of all was learning that Mike’s mom was my 4th grade teacher at Thomas A. Edison School in Morton Grove and I am grateful to have had the chance to see her again today after 45+ years. I recall Mike and I basking in smiling, shared silence, in awe of that realization, and thank you Jenni for your eloquent reminder today that silence can be anything but empty. While both Mike and Carol were masters at their professional crafts, most striking to me is their shared kindness and gentleness of spirit. RIP Mike.

~Verghese Mathew
~Professsional, Chicago

September 30th, 2021

Mike started out as a client and then became my cardiologist. He was the most friendly, non assuming person that always amazed me with his knowledge and humanity. We used to discuss bringing up daughters since both of us have the pleasure of having a daughter. My daughter is a little older than Jennifer so I knew the stages of growth and maturity.

He would fill me in on horse ranch and how much Jennifer loved it.

Summing up, he was a dear man, who saved my life, and I realize now the void I will feel without him.

~Marty Snow
~Friend, Wheeling, Illinois

September 30th, 2021

Dear Kathy and family,
My most sincere condolences. I had the honor and true privilege of working with Mike in the Cath Lab at Evanston Hospital. He was a wonderful person and a truly excellent physician with extraordinary skills. I don’t think he really knew how good he was. Despite being so smart and exceptionally good in the cath lab, we was always humble. He shared his knowledge and was always willing to help others. He was a great role model for many of us.
We will miss him and will always remember him.
With deepest respect,
Mayra Guerrero

~Mayra Guerrero
~Coworker, Evanston, IL

September 30th, 2021

Your passing brings silence and warm tears to your otherwise most loud, and never short of words, NP colleagues on the Advanced Heart Failure team. You brought so much hope and excitement to this institution. You were a wonderful mentor to all of us. What we will remember most however, is the kindness you extended to everyone around you. I will never forget how you said the reason we had to bug you to co-sign our procedural H&Ps was b/c you felt you should not be assuming credit for any work we completed. So respectful and humble. We only wish we verbally expressed the ways in which your mentorship, friendship, and leadership impacted each of us. We all pray for your eternal peace and love. Our hearts will be healing but we are forever grateful to have been associated with such a kind human being and accomplished cardiologist. Sending love and peace to all of your family.

~Katrina Baxter, Jess Jackson, Jenn Kramer, Rachel Betthauser, & Jennifer Sikinger
~ AHF NP colleagues from MCW/Froedtert

~Katrina Baxter
~Colleague, MCW/Froedtert, MENOMONEE FALLS

September 30th, 2021

To Mike’s loved ones,

Mike was among the cardiologists who worked alongside other leaders including myself on the revision of the policy on Managing Telemetry Critical Alarms. I’ve always appreciated his collaborative approach and recognition of the value offered by all. He was an expert in his field who recognized the expertise of others who worked towards ensuring patient safety.
My sincere condolences to your loss.

Jeannie Olegario-Loy
Evanston Hospital

~Jean Olegario-Loy
~colleague,

September 30th, 2021

Michael was an a great friend, a terrific colleague and an incredible physician. He cared for my family and friends with the skill and expertise of an expert in his field. I worked with him and Kathy from the beginning of my nursing career, 29 years ago, and he will always have a positive, memorable standing in my life. He will be greatly missed.

~Lauren Cote

~Lauren Cote
~co-worker, Evanston, Illinois

September 30th, 2021

My condolences and thoughts are with Dr. Salinger’s family and friends. Dr. Salinger was a Joy to work with and he always made me smile with his sense of humor. We gave each other The nickname “TOP DOG”. You will be missed and Thank you for blessing North shore with all your hard work and dedication.

~Jamie Dickerson
~Co- worker, Skokie ,IL

September 30th, 2021

Michael was an a great friend, a terrific colleague and an incredible physician. He cared for my family and friends with the skill and expertise of an expert in his field. I worked with him and Cathy from the beginning of my nursing career, 29 years ago, and he will always have a positive, memorable standing in my life. He will be greatly missed.

~Lauren Cote
~co-worker, Evanston, Il

September 30th, 2021

To Mike’s family,
I am so comforted to see that so many of Mike’s patients experienced the warmth, concern and care behind the tough, wry, “I’m the doctor” exterior. I am so very sorry for your loss.

Mike was a stranger to me when I went from 55 year old “jock” with no health problems to “You’re going to need 5-way bypass” in a matter of 30 minutes. Those first exchanges were frank and educational, but our relationship went from stunned stranger & doctor to more like friends. When I was going through a tough patch, there was a hug and cups of tea and conversation. I will never forget that.

I am a doctor’s daughter. I know that sometimes family time and relationships suffer because the needs of patients intervene. I am sorry for any time I “stole” but your sacrifice saved lives, and Mike was a truly skilled doctor and a good man.

While I hadn’t seen him since he moved his practice, I still carried his new card, because he said I should, and I knew he would have been there if I had needed him. May his memory be for a blessing. His life certainly was a blessing to me and to my family.

I hope your memories of shared good times will lift your hearts.

Louise Hartman Anderson

~Louise Hartman Anderson
~patient (doesn’t begin to cover it), Morton Grove, IL

September 30th, 2021

I am so sorry to hear of Mike’s passing. He was a wonderful person and an extraordinary physician. We sent him the toughest cases, and I never worried about a patient in his care.
May his memory be as a blessing.
Dr. Harry Jaffe

~Harry J Jaffe
~colleague, Chicago

September 29th, 2021

Mike,
You were a wonderful man, physician, colleague and friend. You made those around you better and I greatly enjoyed and benefited from our all too brief time together. You will be deeply missed. I wish you and your family lasting peace.
With great respect, love and admiration….
Peter

~Peter Mason
~Friend and colleague, River Hills

September 29th, 2021

To the Salinger family,

Please accept my deepest condolences of the passing of Dr. Salinger. He was an active participant in my organization’s Reviewer panel and made many contributions over the years of his service with us. He will truly be missed by all who knew him at The Greeley Company.

~Robin Jones
~Professional, Danvers

September 28th, 2021

Mike was one of my favorite attendings 1986-89 when I was a resident at Evanston Hospital. He was enormously talented and a gifted teacher. He was always available when we were in need. He helped me write a paper that we published. Almost made me think about going into Cardiology! Can’t say enough good things about him. My heartfelt condolences to the family.

~Alvaro Lopez, M.D.
~trainee, Atlanta, GA

September 28th, 2021

I am truly sorry to hear of Michael’s death; I hope that your memories will be a blessing and source of comfort.

~Sara Levin
~Colleague, Highland Park, Il

September 28th, 2021

I was privileged to be a friend and customer of Mike from the time of his training days. He was always kind and respectful and taught me a lot about cardiology and compassion. My heart and prayers are offered for Mike and his family.
Dave Sprehe

~David Sprehe
~Friend, Fox River Grove Il

September 28th, 2021

I’m quite sad as Mike helped me navigate many difficult times in my life with his wonderful attention to my care and his graceful demeanor. Mike was a caring professional, thorough in his work and had a dry sense of humor that endured.
I frequently tell the tale of Mike making his first, and probably only, housecall to my home when we had brought my mom back from Florida after she had been released from a Florida hospital. He arrived with everything he could fit in his car from the hospital cath lab. We set him up in our living room and he examined Mom. When finished he approached Nini and me with a recommendation we have her hospitalized. We said we would make arrangements and his response was, “I mean now”. Long story short, John Alexander operated on her and she lived several happy years after that playing tennis and bridge with her pals. Mike and John gave her time with her grandkids she would have missed, but for their care.
Take care Mike and thanks for everything you did for our family.

~Jeff Hillebrand
~Friend, La Quinta

September 28th, 2021

i met your brother when I was taken into the Cath lab at Glenbrook. I knew that he was going to be in there as my Doctor and I asked him how his parents were at the time. He asked me if we knew each other as I was blowing his mind. I then reminded him I knew him from Temple as I was security there. He was a wonderful man. May God bless him and grant him eternal life. My deepest condolences to you Steve and all the Salingers.

~JERRY CASSERLY
~FRIEND, NORTHBROOK, IL

September 27th, 2021

Dear Kathy and family, I worked with Mike for over 30 years at Evanston Hospital during his career as the Director of our CCU, leader of our heart transplant program and as a very talented structural heart MD. It was always reassuring to see him respond to emergency situations. He was a kind, caring, and thoughtful doctor. He spoke often about how much his family meant to him. His family at Evanston Hospital is so sad to learn of his passing. During this pandemic I am sending hugs and sincere condolences to all of you.
Warm regards,
Jean Skelskey

~Jean Skelskey
~colleague/friend, Highland Park, Il