John Patrick Solan, 76, of The Villages, FL, passed on to eternal life on Thursday, June 29, 2017. John was born in Brooklyn, New York as the youngest of five children toPatrick and Winifred Solan who migrated to the United States from Roscommon County, Ireland.
John proudly served his country for 4 ½ years as a submariner aboard the USS Sea Owl. He retired after 35 years from Xerox Corporation.
John leaves behind his cherished family: wife of 48 years, Barbara, his five children Kerrie (Cliff) Harth, Tracy Bryan, Kristina (Joe) Berryman, Matthew Solan, Megan (Michael) Charrette, and 9 grandchildren: Tyler, Morgan, Andrew, Trevor, John, Benjamin, Mason, Colton, Dominick and his sister, Kathleen McGlynn and was preceded in death by his sister Mary Kilduff and brothers Michael and Edward.
John enjoyed playing golf since moving to The Villages in 2005. He learned woodworking at the wood shop and spent many happy hours making bunk beds, bookcases, rocking horses, serving trays, pens for his family and ruler racks, thread holders for his wife’s quilt group to sell all proceeds going to charity.
John believed in God, Country and Family. He was a 4th degree Knight of Columbus, volunteered at several local food pantries as a member of the St. Vincent DePaul Society and served as Parish Council President and leader in his church in Bloomingburg, New York. He will be remembered for his outrageous sense of humor and his life speaks for itself as to the gentle, loving, kind man he was.
Visitation will be at Beyers Funeral Home, Lady Lake, FL on Tuesday July 4th from 6 – 8 p.m. with a small service to celebrate his life at 7 p.m.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Theresa Catholic Church, Belleview, FL on Wednesday July 5th at 10:30 a.m. Interment will follow Mass at Florida National Cemetery, Bushnell FL.
Donations may be made to The Villages Hospice House Building Project,
601 Casa Bella, The Villages, FL 32162 or to the food pantries at St. Timothy Catholic Church, Lady Lake FL or St. Theresa Catholic Church, Belleview FL.
