Dr. William Bruce Sallenbach

Dr. William Bruce Sallenbach

Dr. William Bruce Sallenbach passed away January 5, at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. He was 71.

He was born in St. Louis Mo., July 23, 1945.

After receiving his doctorate from Claremont McKenna College in Claremont, Calif., he worked in the state  for several years before moving to Kenai, Alaska, in 1981. He had lived in Sitka since 2001.

He was well known throughout Southeast Alaska as a child psychologist and a professor at the University of Alaska Southeast Sitka and Ketchikan campuses, teaching psychology, early childhood development and Eastern philosophy.

He also was employed at the Ketchikan Gateway Center, Hoonah Head Start program, Sitka Tribe of Alaska, and SEARHC, as well as handling state correspondence for children and families in need.

He is survived by his four children,  Doug, Terra, Claira and Victor, and five stepchildren, Brian and Kevin Fadley, Max, Raquel and Savanna Littrell; and 13 grandchildren.

He was dedicated to his practice of Buddhism, loved the arts and traveling.

Services will be held at Prewitt Funeral Home 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 14. The public is invited to come.