Michael ‘Mike’ Solomita,

age 83 of Bradenton, FL passed away June 2 following a brief illness. Mike grew up and attended schools in Waterbury, Connecticut. After highschool he joined the Army where he served for 8 years. He attended the University of Connecticut; he was later accepted into the Telephone company management program and advanced in his 32-year career to levels of management until his early retirement in 1983. After retiring, he settled in the River Isles Community Bradenton, Florida where he enjoyed year-round golf with his buddies and many wonderful years with his love and companion, Irene Dommenge. Mike was an avid sports fan and an active member of his community including the VFW, Elks and Moose Clubs. For many of his earlier years, he loved to partner with his brothers-in-law to enjoy fishing, clamming, hunting, beers and many stories about "the one that got away." He will be remembered for his fantastic wit and 'life of the party' fun. Mike leaves his son Kenneth Solomita and wife Terry (Wyatt) Solomita and his two grandsons, Justin and Ethan Solomita, of High Point North Carolina, daughter Debra (Solomita) Krauss and husband, Douglas Krauss of Avon Connecticut, a brother Leonard Solomita of Waterbury, Connecticut, and his former wife Theresa (Pelletier) Solomita, with whom he was married to for twenty years, and many nieces and nephews. The Solomita family members wish to express their gratitude to his partner, Irene, for her love, friendship and companionship to Mike in his golden years. Mike will be laid to rest in the National Cemetery in Sarasota Florida with full military honors on Thursday, June 9 at 2:30 p.m. Friends are welcome to join the family for this service, and afterwards, for a celebration of his life at the clubhouse in the River Isle Community at 4 pm.