Charles David Solomonson

1930 - 2013
Charles David Solomonson passed away peacefully on January 11, 2013 in Arlington Heights, IL, surrounded by loving family. He was 82.

Charles (Chuck) Solomonson was born on November 15, 1930 in Rockford, IL to Carl and Katherine Nelson Solomonson. While he was growing up, he explored Chicago with his grandfather, Charles Nelson, who had lived through the Chicago fire, and his first memory was the Century of Progress exhibition of 1933. He went to Rockford High School, worked as a merchant seaman, and attended Northwestern University, where he met Sarah (Sally) Auer. They married in 1952 while he was serving in the U.S. Navy.

After receiving degrees from Columbia University and the Harvard Business School he had a 30-year career in corporate finance. He began as Assistant Treasurer at the Denver Union Stockyards, went on to G.D. Searle & Company, Joseph Schlitz Brewing Company, Fairmont Foods, and Hobart Corporation, and concluded as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at Holiday Corporation. This took him and his family from Boston to Denver, Chicago, Milwaukee, Omaha, Troy (Ohio), Memphis and New York. He also conducted business in other cities he grew to love, including Paris, London, and Madrid. All the while, he maintained an abiding connection with Chicago.

When he retired in 1986 at the age of 56, he and his wife, Sally, returned to Chicago. He enjoyed urban living, time with family and friends, frequent travel, music and theater, and lively discussions about politics and history. A marvelous storyteller, he shared his love of the city as a Chicago Architecture Foundation docent, and he was known for lively boat tours on the Chicago River. He was also a life-long Chicago Cubs fan who eagerly awaited the Cubs winning the World Series.

Charles Solomonson is survived by his beloved wife, Sarah; his children, Charles W. and Katherine M. Solomonson; and his grandchildren, Eric and Daniel Solomonson. He cared deeply for others and treated people with genuine respect. He loved to laugh and make us all feel at ease. We miss him profoundly and carry with us his joyous spirit.