Half

Obituary for Solomon


Published in the Albuquerque Journal on Saturday April 24, 1999

Alvin H. Solomon, born August 31, 1929 in Chicago, IL, beloved father and friend, died April 20, after a frustrating battle with cancer. He was preceded in death by his parents, William and Pauline Solomon; his sister, June; wife, Lewise; and dear friend, Marva Vollmar. He is survived by his daughter, Sabrina and son-in-law, Mark; his goddaughters, Pari Taichert and Dara Shaw; dear friend, Alan Rosner; adopted sister, Eve Davies; and numerous relatives. Al graduated with a degree in electrical engineering from Purdue University. His ultimate expertise was in nuclear weapons systems, and he was greatly respected in his field. He retired as Chief of the Engineering Analysis Branch of the San Antonio Air Logistics Command (KAFB) in October 1995. Al blended his technical know-how with his creative side when he served as the Lighting Director of the Albuquerque Little Theater for ten years. Al was a keen analyst of human nature, and his skill in understanding people made him a superb manager and magnificent friend. He had a deep respect for irreverence, an admiration for"rogueishness", and an appreciation for good stories and bad jokes. Al had a strong spirit of adventure and equally enjoyed exploring ideas and places. Although he was an engineer, one of the jobs he was proudest of was his own New Mexico sightseeing business in the early 1960's. He said that when he arrived in New Mexico for the first time after working in Seattle in 1960, he felt like he was returning home. His love affair with this state continued all his life. Al knew about everything. If you asked him a question, he had an answer and it was always right. Al was the definition of a father: he always made sure everything was taken care of-for everyone he loved and even people who worked for him casually. His hobbies were many, but one of his greatest pleasures was fiddling around with construction projects and home repairs. He was constantly seeking solutions to vexing problems in his and other people's homes. He was actively involved in the Friends of the North Golf Course community action group and the New Mexico Jewish Historical Society. Al's fine mind, tremendous capacity for love, and sense of humor will be missed by us all. A Memorial Service celebrating his life will be held on Tuesday, April 27 at 2:00 p.m. at Congregation Albert, 3800 Louisiana NE. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be sent in his memory to the New Mexico Jewish Historical Society, PO Box 23056, Santa Fe, NM 87502. Sunrise Society is serving the family of Mr. Solomon (891-8200).