J. D. Salinger, one of the most celebrated writers of the 20th century, died at the age of 91 on January 27, 2010. Born in New York City in 1919, Salinger was educated at several New York schools before enlisting in the Army in 1942 and witnessed his first combat in the D-Day landings in France in 1944. Following World War II, Salinger left the Army and enrolled in several universities, including New York University, Columbia, and Ursinus. Salinger was best known and celebrated for his Ripple-in-still-water short stories, many of them collected as Nine Stories, and for his 1951 novel The Catcher in the Rye. This classic novel, written in 1951, continues to be widely acclaimed, translated into over 20 languages, and adapted for stage and screen. Salinger is survived by his wife, Colleen O’Neill, whom he married in 1988, his daughter Margaret, and his son Matt. Salinger’s legacy as an author is undeniable, his work celebrated for its wit and profundity and his writing remaining a significant influence for readers of all ages throughout the world.