Rachael SOLEM

SOLEM, Rachael Age 68, died suddenly on January 15. Mother, grandmother, wife, sister, friend, entrepreneur, writer, reader, advocate, puzzler and connector of so many worlds; the glue that held everything together. Born in New York City in 1955, she traveled far and wide around this country as well as others, but landed for a long while in Jamaica Plain and then later in Cambridge, finally settling to live with her husband in Wellesley, Massachusetts.

She attended St Hilda's & St Hugh's day school in NYC, Curtis High School in Statin Island, Purchase College and studied at UMass Boston. She graduated from none of these institutions but no surprise to anyone who knew her, she went on to conquer so many aspects of her life.

Ahead of her time, in Jamaica Plain she home-birthed her two children, Briana & John Pearson. During this period she developed childcare groups, a home school, as well as setting her foundation in entrepreneurship with opening Kidstuff, before crossing the river to Cambridge.

In 1990, she recruited investors to purchase the Kirkland Inn. She herself cleaned rooms, checked in guests, cultivated a team of friendly faces whose only common language was seeking a better life. Having never owned a credit card or stayed in a hotel herself, this was quite an accomplishment. Through this work and passion for community, she truly found her niche. She succeeded in transforming the dark run-down building into the warm and inviting Irving House. With this ambition, longer term accommodations at nearby Turner House followed and then Harding House in 1997.

Community and gathering people together was vital to her, whether it was at her home or attending a hotel association meeting. Owning and operating guesthouses in the heart of Cambridge propelled her to become an active member on many of the Cambridge Business Associations, many times even serving as a board member, HSBA, CSBA, ECBA, CLF, CCC, CHS & MLA, President of the Cambridge Hotel Association, as well as an empowering force on fundraising committees for various organizations including Community Servings, CASPAR, Future Chefs, YWCA and On The Rise.

She was a passionate activist, reminding and inspiring people in other states to vote with handwritten notes and addressing of postcards, to tens of thousands of people. She loved to knit for and bake with her grandchildren, always with questions and stories to tell. In the warm weather, she swam daily and was working on her second self-published book. She was a very generous philanthropist as well as a supporter of musicians, other writers and artists of all kinds.

Rachael leaves her husband of 23 years, John Barry Herring; children, Briana & John Pearson; and her six beloved grandchildren. She also leaves her sisters, Melanie & Pam Burrows; as well as older brother, Kris Solem; and younger brothers, Vik & Leif Solem. She was predeceased by her parents, Nancy Sartin, Paul Solem, Richard Burrows; and her eldest brother, Sumner Burrows.

A Service will be held at a later time. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating in her name to any on her above listed non-profits.