Solomon Stein
By Trudy Balizer
December 26, 2006
Read By Mark Groothuis, Son-in-Law
Today a great man passed away. He was everyone's idol. He knew what life was all about. He knew how to live life, and how to enjoy life. He was the happiest man I ever knew.
He was an average man in stature but a giant among other men. He was bright, always inquisitive, always anxious to learn, always interested in everything. He could fix anything. He was the best optometrist, he gave the best exams and his glasses were always perfect.. He loved his little garden and grew all kinds of stuff. He loved Club Haven and all its members, he loved the Dumont Investment Club and all its members. He managed to keep up in life with all his friends and he had more friends than anyone I know and more interests than anyone I know. He played a wonderful fiddle. He loved to sing and had a passion for dancing. In his retirement years be came a dance teacher and did it to perfection. ÊHe loved telling jokes and laughed as much as the people hearing the jokes and that always made me laugh even more. He knew how to deal with sadness and the joys of life. He loved people and people loved him. He understood the purpose of life and he lived his life in an exemplary way. He taught by example .
I was fortunate to be part of the family down the block who became the best of friends with the Steins. When we moved into 76 Road I was 6 years old. We have never in 54 years not been the best of friends. We have never not loved each other. Sol and the whole family have always been part of our lives and for that we have been blessed.
Sol loved his life, he was always satisfied. He loved his children. He was so proud of their accomplishments but even more importantly he was proud of the people they became. He adored the grandkids, and was reaping the joys of this very warm, loving group of now young adults.
But most of all in the world he loved his Hannah. He was the best husband there could ever be. That was a marriage and a love fest.
He was put on this earth to teach all who came in contact with him how to live. Just by knowing him we all became better people. I always say when I grow up I want to be just like Sol. I want his zest for life, his patience, his compassion, his talent, his drive, and mostly his loving nature.
I will always remember him with the greatest respect and love.
Trudy