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Pioneering author's body found mummified in New Mexico home Pioneering author's body found mummified in New Mexico home
(6 days later)
She was a trailblazing activist, publisher and author who devoted her life to recording hispanic stories and traditions but when Barbara Salinas Norman's life ended no one recorded it. No one noticed.She was a trailblazing activist, publisher and author who devoted her life to recording hispanic stories and traditions but when Barbara Salinas Norman's life ended no one recorded it. No one noticed.
She died alone, aged 70, in her memento-filled apartment on Zia Road in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and there she lay behind an unlocked door for days, weeks, months, probably over a year, unmourned, forgotten.She died alone, aged 70, in her memento-filled apartment on Zia Road in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and there she lay behind an unlocked door for days, weeks, months, probably over a year, unmourned, forgotten.
By the time her body was discovered last week it was so badly decomposed it was said to be mummified, a tragic end to a life which once sparkled with creativity and passion in the cause of Mexican Americans.By the time her body was discovered last week it was so badly decomposed it was said to be mummified, a tragic end to a life which once sparkled with creativity and passion in the cause of Mexican Americans.
A preliminary autopsy report suggested Salinas, who wrote bilingual books and was part of the Chicano movement's civil rights advocacy, died of natural causes.A preliminary autopsy report suggested Salinas, who wrote bilingual books and was part of the Chicano movement's civil rights advocacy, died of natural causes.
The question was less how she died but how neighbours, relatives and former colleagues remained oblivious for so long.The question was less how she died but how neighbours, relatives and former colleagues remained oblivious for so long.
Her brother-in-law Louis Ponce found the body after he and his wife Edna, Salinas' sister, drove from their home in California to check on her after two years of unreturned phone calls and letters.Her brother-in-law Louis Ponce found the body after he and his wife Edna, Salinas' sister, drove from their home in California to check on her after two years of unreturned phone calls and letters.
He knocked on the door of her apartment at the Zia Vista condominiums. When there was no answer he tried the handle and found the door unlocked.
Curtains were drawn so even at midday the apartment was dark. Ponce stepped on what turned out to be Salinas' wallet, then saw the corpse. "I ran like hell," he told the Santa Fe New Mexican.		He knocked on the door of her apartment at the Zia Vista condominiums. When there was no answer he tried the handle and found the door unlocked.
Curtains were drawn so even at midday the apartment was dark. Ponce stepped on what turned out to be Salinas' wallet, then saw the corpse. "I ran like hell," he told the Santa Fe New Mexican.
He returned with police. They found the apartment stinking and strewn with artefacts and junk. The "inspirational" educator known as Bobbi, it turned out, had become a hoarder and a recluse. "If you saw the apartment, you would never walk inside it," said Ponce. "I never knew anybody could be that filthy."He returned with police. They found the apartment stinking and strewn with artefacts and junk. The "inspirational" educator known as Bobbi, it turned out, had become a hoarder and a recluse. "If you saw the apartment, you would never walk inside it," said Ponce. "I never knew anybody could be that filthy."
Salinas was once a respected, dynamic figure. The daughter of Hispanic Americans, she grew up in east Los Angeles and earned a master's degree in public health education from the University of California, Berkeley. She was prominent in the Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlán (Mecha), which promoted higher education among Chicanos, and taught at public schools in Oakland in the 1980s.Salinas was once a respected, dynamic figure. The daughter of Hispanic Americans, she grew up in east Los Angeles and earned a master's degree in public health education from the University of California, Berkeley. She was prominent in the Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlán (Mecha), which promoted higher education among Chicanos, and taught at public schools in Oakland in the 1980s.
She founded and ran Piñata Publications, a small publishing company, and also wrote and illustrated bilingual books for Mexican American children.She founded and ran Piñata Publications, a small publishing company, and also wrote and illustrated bilingual books for Mexican American children.
They included Hispanic folk tales, an award-winning variation of the Three Little Pigs - Los Tres Cerdos: Nacho, Tito and Miguel – and a book titled La Cenicienta Latina, about a young woman who goes to medical school and returns home with a "prince."They included Hispanic folk tales, an award-winning variation of the Three Little Pigs - Los Tres Cerdos: Nacho, Tito and Miguel – and a book titled La Cenicienta Latina, about a young woman who goes to medical school and returns home with a "prince."
Her book Folk Art Traditions I described hispanic Christmas traditions, recipes and instructions for decorations. Traditions II concerned el Día de los Muertos, the Day of the Dead.Her book Folk Art Traditions I described hispanic Christmas traditions, recipes and instructions for decorations. Traditions II concerned el Día de los Muertos, the Day of the Dead.
She gave occasional media interviews and spoke in 2004 at a department of education-funded event at Oregon State University. She was photographed with celebrities such as Stevie Wonder, Linda Ronstadt and Carlos Santana.She gave occasional media interviews and spoke in 2004 at a department of education-funded event at Oregon State University. She was photographed with celebrities such as Stevie Wonder, Linda Ronstadt and Carlos Santana.
Twice divorced, the second time from an Oakland-based lawyer named Sam Norman, Salinas began to lose control after moving to Santa Fe in 2005. She hoarded possessions, lost contact with relatives, missed rent payments and was threatened with eviction. On occasion she slept in her car.Twice divorced, the second time from an Oakland-based lawyer named Sam Norman, Salinas began to lose control after moving to Santa Fe in 2005. She hoarded possessions, lost contact with relatives, missed rent payments and was threatened with eviction. On occasion she slept in her car.
Peggy Trujillo, a librarian at the New Mexico State Library, said Salinas often came there to use the bathroom, to read, sort out crates of papers and use the library phone.Peggy Trujillo, a librarian at the New Mexico State Library, said Salinas often came there to use the bathroom, to read, sort out crates of papers and use the library phone.
She said Salinas was troubled but highly intelligent. "She could talk and talk," Trujillo told the Santa Fe New Mexican. She spoke of moving to Spain to teach. "That was her dream."She said Salinas was troubled but highly intelligent. "She could talk and talk," Trujillo told the Santa Fe New Mexican. She spoke of moving to Spain to teach. "That was her dream."
Carol Guzman, an educator who met Salinas at the library, called her "inspiring" and a "trailblazer" in her field.Carol Guzman, an educator who met Salinas at the library, called her "inspiring" and a "trailblazer" in her field.
But she became increasingly isolated. "She was a brilliant, caring person who should not have been alone after having given so much of herself and her energy to her writing and organizing."But she became increasingly isolated. "She was a brilliant, caring person who should not have been alone after having given so much of herself and her energy to her writing and organizing."
Family members think she died more than one year ago. Questions over how neighbours and condominium managers did not notice remain unanswered.Family members think she died more than one year ago. Questions over how neighbours and condominium managers did not notice remain unanswered.
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