It is hard for me to find the words to express what I feel about Dan. I was a student worker in the Speech communication department at SIUE for a few years. It was a life changing experience for me. My first time away from home, new school, and so very young. The folks in Speech Comm. became my family and Dan, the head of that family for me. I felt scared at first, but with his subtle humor, his gentle, guiding ways, he put me at ease. I grew to love Dan and his advice meant so much. And, he introduced me to Days of Our Lives. We watched together in the office. What a cool boss! :) Those years were long ago, but the influence and the memories have always stayed with me. I have smiled so many times in my life because of a memory or a laugh shared with Dan and the entire staff there. How lucky I am to have had a man such as Dan enter my life just when I needed it most. He influenced my life, touched my soul and lives in my heart always. He was one of the good guys and it makes me so incredibly sad that the world has lost this man. But just as his beloved whales are a part of this universe and so connected to us and the rest of all the species, so too is Dan still connected to us. The stars are made of the same matter as we humans are. He is still a part of our universe now in a different realm. He lives among us always. If we listen closely, we may even hear his call...RIP Dan Salden - you were indeed a very special man.