Claudia Salewske, who was found beaten to death in her home Christmas morning, was a beloved teacher at Gilroy High School and San Jose State University–and she wrote the definitive book on Gilroy’s history.
“I like to call people like her a community contributor,” said Connie Rogers, president of the Gilroy Historical Society. “She will be sorely missed by many, for sure.”
Salewske’s son, Matthew, 39, was arrested in connection with the murder at the home on the 2000 block of Roop Road, which they shared for several years. Matthew is an unemployed truck driver. Police were called to the house at 11 a.m. Christmas on a domestic violence call and found Claudia beaten with a baseball bat. Sheriff’s deputies arrested the son based on evidence and interviews with neighbors.
Salewske was a volunteer for the Garlic Festival and worked on the new historical placards along the Paseo, which opened earlier this month. She taught history at Gilroy High School and later at San Jose State University.
“She was really happy and looked really nice,” Rogers said of her last two meetings with Salewske, 70, at a meeting of their book club and a Christmas party for the Historical Society. “She is leaving many, many friends and a legacy.
Her 200-page history book called Gilroy was published in 2003 by Arcadia Press.
“From the early settlements of the Ohlone, through the vibrant Rancho era and post “gold-fever” boom, to the present-day world-famous Garlic Festival, this book illustrates the unique history of this town at the southern end of Silicon Valley,” the publisher wrote on its site.
“Claudia was a perfectionist about everything she did,” said Rogers. “She paid a lot of attention to detail. She always wanted to make sure her sources were correct and she double checked all of them.”
She got passionate reviews on the Rate My Professors page, for her work at San Jose State.
“I really like this teacher, she is one of the best professors I have had since I came to San Jose State,” wrote one student. “She grades hard and is very critical that you get everything she says right, but it helps you learn better that way.”
Two others wrote:
“She is a terrific teacher; however, she is really hard! The way she grades is extremely critical, you hardly get the full points in any assignment because something is always missing. Very big on grammar and get the reading done because she gives quizzes.”
“Wonderful teacher! Nicest one out there. As long as you read the books, you will do fine. She is incredibly helpful and her knowledge about writing is great! I would recommend to anyone!!”
Here’s a website that pays tribute to her: http://www.forevermissed.com/claudia-kendall-salewske#about
