2022 -- H 7591

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2022

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

EXPRESSING DEEPEST CONDOLENCES ON THE PASSING OF THE HONORABLE

ANTHONY J. SOLOMON

     Introduced By: Representatives Solomon, Shekarchi, Blazejewski, Corvese, Baginski,
Carson, Kazarian, Vella-Wilkinson, Slater, and McNamara

     Date Introduced: March 01, 2022

     Referred To: House read and passed

     WHEREAS, It is great sadness that this House has learned of the passing of the

Honorable Anthony Solomon, a distinguished public servant who served our state with honor and

integrity as General Treasurer as well as a member of the Rhode Island House of Representatives;

and

     WHEREAS, Anthony Solomon was born in Providence to a close-knit Lebanese family

and lived in Providence his entire life. He was the son of the late Joseph and Nazha Solomon,

both of whom were emigres from a very small village in Kfarsghab, in northern Lebanon. When

many of the people of Kfarsghab left Lebanon to seek a better life in the United States, almost all

went to three places, Sydney, Australia, Easton, Pennsylvania, and Providence, Rhode Island. Mr.

Solomon married the love of his life, Sarah (Symia) Solomon of Easton, Pennsylvania, in 1954

and they were married for more than fifty years until her passing in 2006; and

     WHEREAS, Anthony Solomon graduated from LaSalle Academy, Providence College

and the Rhode Island College of Pharmacy. He then proceeded to found Anthony’s Pharmacy in

the Olneyville neighborhood of Providence when he was 25 and owned and operated the store for

many years. As a pharmacist, Mr. Solomon was a beloved and highly admired figure who always

had deep compassion for those in need of assistance, be it someone who was a little late in his

payment for a product or service, or taking a call late at night from a customer to fill a much-

needed prescription; and

     WHEREAS, In 1966, Mr. Solomon was elected to the Rhode Island House of

Representatives, serving the citizens of District 11, until 1977. In 1976, he was elected to the

position of General Treasurer for the State of Rhode Island, a position he held until 1984, when

he ran for Governor. He was reelected General Treasurer in 1988, and served until 1993, when he

retired for health reasons; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Solomon’s tenure as General Treasure was praised by almost all

observers. He was credited with transforming the Office of the General Treasurer into a modern

organization and for skillfully handling the public’s finances. His integrity and credibility were

lauded by all of his peers. He was member of the National Association of State Treasurers and

served as that body’s President in 1980-1981; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Solomon was an active member of numerous civic, religious and

political associations throughout his life. He was very proud of the work he and his wife

conducted as founding members of the National Association/Apostolate of Maronites (NAM). He

enjoyed traveling across the country with NAM and meeting Lebanese American Maronite

Catholics in every State of the Union. Mr. Solomon also served as the President of this lay

organization during its formative years and was an active member of NAM for more than fifty

years; and

     WHEREAS, Locally, Mr. Solomon was a devoted parishioner of St. George’s Maronite

Catholic Church, now located in Cranston. In 1979, Mr. Solomon and his wife were given the

prestigious Gold Massabki Award by the National Apostolate in recognition of “their true

Christian Values, qualities of national leadership and example to the Apostolate, and devotion

above and beyond the call of duty to the Maronite Church in the United States.” Mr. Solomon

was also named Man of the Year in 1979 by the Christian Brothers Association of LaSalle

Academy; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Solomon was the devoted husband of the late Sarah Solomon. He leaves

behind his children, Donna Harrison, former Providence City Council President, Michael

Solomon, Sharon Solomon-Santilli, and Anthony Solomon. He also leaves behind his in-laws

Denise Solomon, Mark Santilli, Sr., Nancy Solomon, and the late Andy Harrison. He was the

devoted grandfather, lovingly known as “Jiddo”, to Elissa Kingsland and Anthony Harrison, III,

Tarah Provencal and her husband, Paul, Alanna Scott and her husband, James, Lauren Monaco

and her husband, Sean, Lindsay Lynch and her husband, Timothy, Mark Santilli, Jr., and his wife,

Stephanie, and Samantha Sowik and her husband, Jason. Mr. Solomon also leaves behind 12

great-great-grandchildren, Adele, Milan, Deacon, Violet, Elliot, Michael, Isla, Emilia,

Christopher, Nora, Layne, and Noah. Mr. Solomon leaves behind his brother, Donald Solomon

and his sister-in-law Jeannette Solomon. He also leaves behind his great-nephew, the Honorable

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Rhode Island State Representative Joseph Solomon, Jr., and many nieces, nephews, and cousins

across the globe; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Solomon was predeceased by his siblings, Sam Solomon and his wife,

Rose, Jean Azar and her husband, Tanous, and John Solomon, Sr. He also is predeceased by his

uncle Fred Simon and aunts Eva and Hilda Simon; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby

expresses its deepest condolences on the passing of the Honorable Anthony J. Solomon; and be it

further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit duly certifies copies of this resolution to Donna Harrison, the Honorable Michael

Solomon, Sharon Solomon-Santilli, and Anthony Solomon.

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