Dr. Cora Slade Salzberg

Passed 07/19/2023

Obituary For Dr. Cora Slade Salzberg

Dr. Cora Slade Salzberg, the daughter of the late Mary Anderson Slade and Owen Henry Holmes, was born June 27, 1942, in Richmond, Virginia. She transitioned to her Heavenly Home on July 19th, 2023. Cora was preceded in death by her husband, Dr. Arnold Martin Salzberg; brother, Alphonzo Slade; and sister, Bertha Anderson Slade.

Cora’s early education began in Richmond Public Schools, where she graduated from Armstrong High School in 1959. She began her higher education at Virginia Union University (Richmond, VA), and later transferred to Southern University (Baton Rouge, LA) where she earned a B.S. in Secondary Education. Continuing her academic pursuits, Cora earned an (M.S./M.A.) in Health Education at Indiana University (Bloomington, IN) and a Ph.D. in Urban Services and Education from Virginia Commonwealth University.

A devout Catholic, Cora was connected to St. Bridget’s Catholic Church and St. Mary’s Catholic Church

Dr. Salzberg began her professional career in education with Richmond Public Schools, teaching health at East End Junior High and later teaching swimming, dance, and adaptive physical education at Hampton Institute (now University).

Cora married Dr. Arnold Martin Salzberg, whom she described as the love of her life, in Juárez, Mexico. To that union was born their only child, Arnold David, when the couple lived in Los Angeles, CA. After returning to Richmond, Cora taught swimming, dance, and adaptive physical education at Virginia State University.

While engaged in her doctoral studies at Virginia Commonwealth University, Cora joined the staff at the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) and retired in 2005, after 12 years of dedicated service. During her tenure at SCHEV, Dr. Salzberg served as the Chair of the proposal-writing team and Project Director for ACCESS VIRGINIA: Today’s Scholars, Tomorrow’s Leaders, 1999-2001, a $10.7M GEAR UP grant from the U. S. Department of Education.

As Coordinator of the SCHEV’s Better Information Project, Dr. Salzberg initiated a successful summer precollege program, which provided middle and high school students the opportunity to experience, over a three-week period, collegiate-level course work (classes) taught by professors at select four- and two-year universities and colleges. Cora published eight books for middle- and high-school students, titled Preparing for College and You Can Afford College that were used to enhance the Better Information Project’s precollege program. Another program enhancement focused on interactions with professionals/role models from various career paths. Some of those individuals were Dr. Julian Bond, Dr. Nikki Giovanni, Governor Douglas Wilder, Mr. James Farmer, and the Presidents of the eight state-supported college/universities that hosted the summer program. A major highlight of these programs was the James Madison University precollege experience for male high school seniors. They attended a six-week program in South Africa, hosted by The Honorable Winnie Mandela. Over the entire period of the precollege program, 87 percent of the students were admitted to and attended a Virginia state-supported college or university.

Throughout her life, Dr. Salzberg was involved in numerous community service, professional, and social organizations.

Cora held memberships in organizations through which she was able to honor her firm dedication to community service. These memberships included the Pi Rho Omega and Rho Eta Omega Chapters of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated; The Links, Incorporated; and The Society, Inc. Within these organizations Cora served on various boards, committees, and teams. She also held leadership roles, serving as Chapter President, Director, Program Director, Coordinator, Assessment Chair, Committee Chair, and Team Leader. Of special note is Cora’s leadership for The Links’ Organ, Tissue, and Bone Marrow Awareness Signature Program; Eastern Area Links Chapters’ work, which was instrumental in Kemba Smith being freed from prison in December 2000; and the evaluation of The Links’ South African Education Across the Miles Program that spearheaded the building of 40 schools and provided books, school supplies, medical/hygienic supplies, and shoes for students throughout South Africa.

Dr. Salzberg was engaged in professional endeavors to which she was deeply committed. She was a member of several organizations in which she took on leadership roles as President, Board Chair, Vice Chair, Committee Chair, and Team Leader. Cora earned her credentials as a Registered Parliamentarian (RP) and Professional Registered Parliamentarian (PRP) through the National Association of Parliamentarians (NAP). Among several others, Dr. Salzberg served on the Radford University Board of Trustees for 14 years; was a trustee of the Westminster Canterbury Foundation; honoree, Virginia Heroes, Inc. (Arthur Ashe Foundation); chair of the State Board of Correctional Education (Commonwealth of Virginia); and member of Leadership Metro Richmond, Class of 1988, the Dr. Martin Luther King Memorial Commission, School of the Performing Arts in the Richmond Community (SPARC) Board of Trustees, and the YMCA Central Virginia Board.

Dr. Cora Slade Salzberg shall be missed by her son, Dr. Arnold David Salzberg and his wife Dr. Jami Marie Salzberg; grandsons, Martin David Salzberg and Alexander Maxwell Salzberg; and a host of other family members and friends.

Remains rest at Scott's Funeral Home, 115 E. Brookland Park Blvd. where viewing will be held from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. Friday, July 28, 2023. The Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated's Ivy Beyond the Wall Ceremony will be held at 5 p.m. followed by The Links Incorporated Memorial Service followed by the family receiving friends from 6 p.m. until 7 p.m. at Scott's Chapel, 116 E. Brookland Park Blvd.

Funeral services will be held 1 p.m. Saturday, July 29 at St. Bridget Catholic Church, 6006 Three Chopt Road, Richmond, VA. Inurnment private at a later date at Saint Mary's Catholic Church Columbarium, 9505 Gayton Road, Richmond, VA.

In lieu of flowers, please made donations in Dr. Salzberg's name to the National Marrow Donor Program, 500 N. 5th Street, Minneapolis, MN 55401-1206 or bethematch.org.