Herman Solis

Herman Elwin Solis was born in San Pablo, a small village in northern British Honduras, the third of seven children on March 19, 1933, to Matilda and Herman Solis Sr.

When his father went off to World War II in 1943, Herman’s mother moved the children to Belize Town where she could be closer to their extended family. He went to Holy Redeemer Catholic school, where he became an altar boy and began a lifelong devotion to his beloved Catholic Church. He also became a Boy Scout and met his best friend Beto Escalante who would remain his best friend to the end of his days.

Herman met Francisca Garcia and married her in August 1957. They went on to have a large family, seven children, four girls and three boys. They immigrated to New York City in 1969 where he worked in accounting for various employers for decades. However, his most important role was that of father.

His home was the gathering place for family, relatives and friends. He made it a point to always prepare plenty of good food. At Christmas time he would stay up late making traditional Yucatecan tamales and baking several traditional Christmas cakes for friends and for his home. His was a home where anyone could find rest, comfort and family togetherness.

He counted himself proud to have put all his children, all of whom went on to higher education, through Catholic School. He emphasized education and encouraged his children in striving for whatever they wanted. Even if he had misgivings, he never tried to discourage them from taking risks and following their dreams. Education was of the utmost importance and he guided his children to pursue it with a passion.

He was a loving father who always found the time to enjoy life through his children. He took them to Coney Island, Mets baseball games, ice skating, daily park visits after a hard days work, and the movies—always spending quality time with them.

Herman Solis retired in 1994 and moved to Sunrise, Florida where he started working part time as a security guard in Pompano Beach, where he enjoyed meeting new people. He attended mass on Sundays & Holy days, serving as an usher at St. Gregory The Great Catholic Church here in Plantation Florida. He continued to make family dinners, bake and hosted family visits from relatives in Belize.

In the last few years of his life he suffered from a host of issues, most devastatingly, renal failure. He was a fighter, he fought with all his might to recover from health setbacks and often amazed the doctors with his resiliency. Unfortunately the last hospital stay proved to be too much. His family brought him home and four days later he died in the arms of his youngest daughter on St. Jude’s Feast Day, October 28, 2018, at 2:44 am.

He is gone from this earth but not from our hearts nor from our memories. He holds a place in the hearts and minds of everyone he encountered. He was wise and funny and his dimpled smile charmed everyone.

He leaves behind seven fortunate children, who are blessed with the knowledge that they had the greatest gift, a father who loved them unconditionally. He also leaves behind one brother, twenty one grandchildren, three great grandchildren in addition to nieces & nephews, many of whom consider him the greatest father figure they have ever known.

He measured his success by the smiles of those he loved and who loved him in return. Our hearts are broken from his absence but we know he has left an indelible mark on this world.