Yale Solomon

SOLOMON - Yale, a longtime ophthalmologist in Bay Shore who later founded an international organization that sent volunteer eye doctors on medical mercy missions to under-served regions around the world, died last week at the age of 94 at his home in New York City. The cause was complications of lymphoma. Dr. Solomon began his medical career after serving in the U.S. Army during World War Two. He moved to Bay Shore in 1956 to join a one-person ophthalmology practice, and over the following four decades built it into one of the largest ophthalmology practices on Long Island. During that time, he served in leadership positions in the ophthalmology departments at Southside and Good Samaritan Hospitals, and as an instructor at Stony Brook School of Medicine. In the 1980s, after participating in several medical mercy missions, Dr. Solomon founded Volunteer Eye Surgeons International, which sent volunteer ophthalmologists on surgical and teaching missions in Central and South America, Africa, the Middle East and Asia. Dr. Solomon retired from active ophthalmology after developing age-related macular degeneration, a condition that ultimately left him legally blind. Nevertheless, he remained active in his field by opening a low vision rehabilitation clinic in Bay Shore and by writing a best-selling book about macular degeneration. Outside of ophthalmology, Dr. Solomon devoted himself to anti-war and social justice causes, having served in leadership positions in the Suffolk County chapters of the ACLU and Physicians for Social Responsibility. Dr. Solomon is survived by his loving wife of 68 years, Isobel, with whom he shared a deep passion for travel, opera, folk dancing, book clubs, friendships and liberal politics. He is also survived by his devoted family: JD Solomon and his wife Maureen Tinen and their children Jesse and Eric; Randall Solomon and his spouse Cynthia Adams and Randy's children Benjamin, Daniel and Ethan; Steven Solomon and his children Tess, Eliza and Drew; and Michael Solomon and his wife Joy and their children Emma and Jordana. He also leaves four nieces, Susan, Robin, Gina and Deborah, and a nephew, Paul.