Holden Caulfield lives on

By Jay Blaine
Contributing Writer

In the wake of J.D. Salinger’s death at 91 on Jan. 27, students and faculty reflected on the author and his seminal work “The Catcher in the Rye”.

Told from the first person perspective of Holden Caulfield, “The Catcher in the Rye” is about an angst-ridden, 16-year-old student expelled from prep school, who decides to strike out on his own for a weekend of misadventures in New York City.

“Even though it was written a long time ago, it still resonates today. Especially since, at the time I read it, I was attending a private school,” City College student Evan Jones said.

Salinger, almost as well known for his reclusive behavior as his breakout success, published his last original work in 1965. Even though Salinger shunned fame and the publishing industry, according to close friends he continued to write throughout his life.

City College English Professor Jacquelynn Davis-Martin recalled something a high school English student said to her: “’I am not rich or white or from the east coast. I am poor, black and from California. But I am Holden Caulfield.’ At that moment of hearing him, I realized I am Holden Caulfield too. That’s the book’s genius,” she said.

Frances Connick, former chair of the chemistry department, died on Dec. 29. At her request, no funeral services were held.

Connick taught at City College for 25 years – from 1968 until her retirement in 1992.
The current chair of the chemestry department, Ray Fong, Ph.D., was quoted in an e-mail distributed by Chancellor Dr. Don Q. Griffin as saying, “I worked with Frances in my early years before her retirement. She was a wonderful colleague, highly involved in academic affairs, and well respected by all.”

Reginald Alexander, City College employee from 1970 to 1998, died Jan. 16. He served City College in a number of roles, according to an e-mail distributed by Chancellor Dr. Don Q. Griffin, including dean and vice chancellor.

A memorial service was held Jan. 22 at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church in Sonoma.

City College student Danaz Salak, 18, was killed in a head-on collision on westbound Interstate Highway 580 on Dec. 28 of last year. Salak was driving east on westbound I-580 when her vehicle crashed into a big-rig, California Hiway Patrol Officer Ralph Caggiano told CBS Channel 5 News.

She was pronounced dead at the scene. According to an obituary that appeared in the Marin Independent Journal, Salak was a graduate of San Marin High School and was studying art and criminal justice at City College.