Michael Salzer

Michael Kenneth "Ken" Salzer died peacefully at his home in Apex, North Carolina, on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, after a long illness. He was 63.

Ken had a natural intellectual and philosophical curiosity. He absorbed ideas, science fiction and progressive rock like a sponge, ever pondering the sweeping themes that connected physics, biology, math, life and the universe.

Born in Albany, New York, on Aug. 3, 1962, he graduated from Shenendehowa High School before embarking on a life adventure to the American West to work on an oil rig. An injury brought him back to upstate New York, where he amused his compatriots in the restaurant business for quite a few years with his wit, wisdom and analysis of a problem. "The way I see it," he'd say to a pile of work as yet to be done, "we're in pretty good shape."

Ken proudly returned to school to earn an associate's degree at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy, a bachelor's degree in engineering at Clarkson University in Potsdam, and a master's in biomedical engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

The center of his life was his family. Ken was an incredibly loving son and brother and a dedicated father to his two children, Daniel Salzer of Apex, NC; and Rebecca Salzer of New York City. He is also survived by his father, Robert, of Stuart, Florida; his brother Rob (Denise) Shellhouse of Waynesville, NC; his sister Ellen Salzer-Snay of Stuart, Fl; and brother Christopher (Janice) Salzer of Durham, NC; and nephews James Snay and Erik Snay; as well as various aunts and cousins.

A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, March 14, from 2 to 5 p.m. at 317 E. Chatham St., Apex, North Carolina 27502.