Adrienne Kay Salm

Adrienne Kay Salm quietly transitioned from this physical plane to the spiritual life beyond on May 14, 2024, at her home in Morgantown, West Virginia. She was 70 years old. Adrienne was born on July 9, 1953, in Pittsburgh, PA, to Katherine V. Porter and John J. Salm. She lived her early childhood in Coraopolis, PA, Saugerties, NY, and finally, Downers Grove, IL, moving due to her father's work transfers. She was a well-rounded child with many interests, including a love for animals and the natural world. She excelled in school basics while also taking extracurricular piano lessons. Music held a special place in her heart as she had abundant exposure to it from both parents. Popular and talented in middle and high school, she worked hard to obtain a coveted cheerleader position.

The interests that ultimately captured her intelligence and quick-witted personality were psychology, spirituality, and neurophysiology. She obtained her Bachelor's degree in Psychology from Southern Illinois University and her Master's and Ph.D. in Neuroscience/Psychology from Michigan State University in Lansing, MI.

Adrienne then moved to North Carolina in the late 80's to work on a post-doc Fellowship in the Department of Pharmacology/Curriculum in Neurobiology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Her job searches took her to a faculty position in Morgantown at West Virginia University School of Medicine, where she taught medical students anatomy and ran a research lab. With her NIH-funded research, she published many studies and papers. She initially became a professor and associate chair for the Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy. In 2017, she became a professor in the Department of Pathology, Anatomy and Laboratory Medicine in the School of Medicine. Adrienne met the love of her life, Dave West, while living in her home on Wildwood Lake, surrounded by Morgantown mountain beauty. The household and grounds were also home to a menagerie of pets: dogs, cats, and even a flying squirrel named Rocky. Ducks, geese, fish, and frogs occupied the lake while a variety of birds took advantage of the feeders on the outside porch.

They bought the fix-up house a couple of lots down and refurbished it, making it a high-demand vacation rental on the lake. This added to the investment home already in their portfolio located in the North Carolina Outer Banks. Adrienne enjoyed and was quite skilled at Interior Design, turning their ho-hum rentals into stylish, decorated "getaways." They were a good match, as Dave did the heavy construction tasks.

In 2019, Adrienne retired and became Professor Emeritus, still going into the office and lab when her expertise was needed for special projects. A kind and loving person, Adrienne always demonstrated consideration and thoughtfulness toward others. One way she gave her time was her volunteer work on the Governor's Council on Child Abuse. She was the only scientist on the dozen or so-person panel.

An often pondered dream of Adrienne's was to retire, at least part-time, at the North Carolina house on Albemarle Sound, just east of Kill Devil Hills, where the Wright Brothers did their First flight. They recently built a new dock and bought a small motorboat to putter around on the Sound, further improving the fun factor of their North Carolina OBX home.

Adrienne is Survived by her partner, David W. West of Morgantown; her son, Jason A. West of Morgantown; her two siblings, Kathryn L. Salm of Tucson, AZ, Richard D. Salm of Superior, CO; her sister-in-law Marion R. Salm of Dartmouth, MA, her niece, Kristine and husband Alex Baker, her cousin and husband, Raeleen and Sam Sununtnasuk, her nieces and nephew, Damon Sununtnasuk & wife Kindall Hogenson, Janelle Sununtnasuk, Celeste Sununtnasuk, Cousins Cliff, Linda & John Porter and their families. Adrienne is also fondly remembered by her step-father, George Vorel's children: her step-siblings, Rose Vorel and wife Deb Weadock, step-brother Will and wife Diane Vorel, step-brother Mike Vorel and wife Angela, step-sister Beth Vorel, step sister Charlotte Vorel and family.

A memorial service is scheduled for 3 pm August 17 at Jenkins Funeral Home with a gathering prior from 1 pm - 3 pm, 10 South High Street, Morgantown, WV 26501 (ph# 304-296-6446). Those wishing to make a charitable donation in her honor may do so at either The Ocean Conservancy or The Nature Conservancy.