Salli was born on November 16, 1937 to Dr. Clyde R. Jensen and Mary Bard Jensen, an accomplished author and older sister of famous author, Betty MacDonald. Salli grew up in the Madrona neighborhood of Seattle with her older sister Mari, younger sister, Heidi, and their family Cocker Spaniel, Spot. She attended Madrona Elementary and Helen Bush School where she graduated in 1955. She went on to the University of Washington to study nursing and pledged the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority where she was an active member and developed lifelong friendships and a top-secret handshake she would never divulge to outsiders.

While at UW, she was voted the Sweetheart of Sigma Chi, and in her junior year, she met the love of her life, Dr. Vincent Codiga, a medical student from Tukwila. They were married in 1957 and had three daughters, Marianne, Susan and Alison. When Salli was 26, she was sadly widowed with three young children. In 1965, Salli met and married Reid Rogers of San Francisco, who kindly adopted Salli’s daughters as his own. They settled on Yarrow Point in Bellevue and had two more children, John and Kathryn. Salli and Reid enjoyed travelling the world through YPO and entertaining guests.

Salli was a life-long learner, volunteer, and advocate. She began as a candy striper at Seattle Children’s Hospital at age 12, and volunteered in her community through the Junior League of Seattle, Seattle Children’s Guild Association, and as a reading tutor in her children’s schools. In 1978, she received her Orton Gillingham certification to teach reading to children with Dyslexia, and proudly taught at Lakeside Middle School in Seattle as a Reading Tutor and Life Skills teacher for 26 years. During that time, she began practicing meditation, became a long-distance runner, earned her scuba-diving certification and black belt in Aikido, studied poetry and Spanish, kayaked around Vancouver Island, and became a masters women’s rower on Martha’s Moms crew team in Seattle for ten years. She was a loyal friend to many and never forgot a loved one’s birthday.

Salli’s greatest accomplishment was being “Amah” to her nine adoring grandchildren and four great grandchildren. In 2005, she retired to Gig Harbor after the birth of her last grandchild and became an active volunteer in the Gig Harbor community. She volunteered at GH MultiCare as a greeter and Oncology unit support, and at Evergreen Elementary, Kopachuck and Harbor Ridge Middle Schools as a reading tutor in her daughter Kathryn’s classrooms. She became an active Labrador dog rescuer and proudly rescued four dogs - Jensie, Lolly, Stella, and Oliver - and befriended every neighborhood dog in Arletta and Fox Island where she lived until 2020. She was passionate about exercise, yoga, gardening, and coffee, and developed a wonderful group of friends through yoga at the GH YMCA with whom she shared many laughs and lattes. Salli was a devoted fan of Rachel Maddow, Anderson Cooper, the royal family, Dog Whisperer, Chicago Fire, and Virgin River. She was a steadfast Democrat and human rights activist and enjoyed advocating for others. She was proud to meet Gloria Steinem in the 1970s.

Salli was proceeded in death by her parents, Dr. and Mrs. Jensen; first husband, Dr. Vincent Codiga; oldest daughter, Marianne Rogers; grandson, Nick Koon; stepmother and friend, Dorothy Post Rogers; favorite cousins: Heidi Keil, Tim Keil, and Chris Goldsmith; long-term partner, Gary MacLeod; and her closest friend of 62 years, Donna Hayden.

She is survived by her children: Susan Rembold (Gary), Alison Kirk (George), John Rogers (Ash), and Kathryn Portteus (Steve); nine “perfect” grandchildren: Josh, Jason (Leslie), Jonni (John), Piper, Liz, Logan (Claire), Lilly (Jack), Henry, and Violet; four great grandchildren: Layla, Kaleia, Nick, and Niah; her best friend, Sharon McCagg; two sisters, Mari Clack and Heidi Rabel; favorite niece, Ivaly (Scott) and great niece, Tucker; the Codiga, Robbins, and Phelps/Hayden families, many friends and former students throughout the Seattle and Gig Harbor area; her incredible yoga pals; and beloved last dog and prince, Oliver.

The family would like to thank Kathryn & Steve Portteus, and Dr. Alma Glamzi and her assistant, Damon Olafson, for their loving care of Salli the past ten years; and SW Danielle Wade and ARNP Cara Lundin and her incredible staff of Franciscan Hospice House for their excellent end-of-life care. A memorial service for Salli’s close family and friends will be held at The Chapel on Echo Bay: 400 6th Avenue, Fox Island at 1:00 pm on Monday, February 17th. In lieu of flowers, remembrances can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or your favorite animal rescue. Cards can be sent to PO Box 2494 Gig Harbor, WA 98335. Please honor Salli’s legacy by volunteering in your community to help make a difference.