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David Sollenberger Obituary
David Sollenberger
David Sollenberger, loving husband, father, brother, friend, mentor, and puzzle ambassador extraordinaire, died in his sleep at his McLean, Virginia, home on April 18, 2023, age 77. He will be missed by anyone who met him, because he was awesome.
David was brilliant, gentle, attentive, and—according to his wife of 44 years, the highly biased Judy Sollenberger—devastatingly handsome. Some may recall David from Herndon Elementary, where in 1994 he filled extra hours by teaching students chess as "Mr. E-4." Others may remember him as a humble All-American who set a McLean High basketball scoring record that stood for decades. The CEO of Kellogg's may remember that David once found a discount loophole so preposterous the supermarket paid him to buy cornflakes.
His greatest traits, however, were his generosity, kindness, and originality. David thought always about the people around him, never about himself. He wanted to draw joy out of everyone, and so your interests became his. After an injury stole most of his physical freedom, David fell in love with puzzles—tangrams, then labyrinths, then Sudokus—and spent hours designing puzzle cards for friends and loved ones, a unique reminder that he was thinking about you. ("I'm better at creating problems than I am at solving them," he once said.)
The man was a gift, and he will be missed beyond belief. He was preceded in death by his parents, Agnes and Howard, and his brother, Roger (1968). His spirit survives inside his family—his wife, Judy; sons, Roger and Eric; their wives, Kathleen and Stephanie; and his sister, Zoë—and everyone who knew him.
A memorial will be held June 11 at 3 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Fairfax. Contributions can be made to Heifer International or to your community and family.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for David Sollenberger
Alan Monat
September 3, 2023
I am saddened to learn of David's recent passing. While we hadn't kept in touch for many years, I have often thought of David and the wonderful times we shared especially during our years growing up in McLean Virginia. Agnes, Howard, David, Roger, and Zoe lived nearby to our family in the same community. My parents were especially close to Agnes and Howard and I was friends with David and Roger. Zoe was much younger but I do remember her as well.
My memories of David take me back to the many years we played basketball, baseball and football in his front and rear yards. Our practice sessions were always fun and challenging. And, of course, David would often, even back then, prepare incredible Chinese dishes. I particularly remember his outstanding duck dinners, one of which he prepared for me and my wife.
I should also mention that David took many professional quality photos of my father, one of which I still cherish today.
I see from David's obituary that he had a powerful impact on so many friends and family--which is no surprise to me. While I do not have the privilege of knowing David's wife and children and grandchildren, I am so glad to know that David was surrounded by so many loved ones.
My condolences to the Sollenbergers and to their extended family members and their many dear friends.
Caryn Morgan (Karen Johnson)
June 12, 2023
This wonderful man provided me with many pleasant childhood memories. My heart goes out to the family and loved ones close to this loss. I hope your happy memories bring you some peace in this difficult time. Thank you for the memories.
PIT Commenter
June 11, 2023
Had to be a great man to raise a son that can make hundreds of thousands of people laugh every day, and do it in such a humble way. Blue mountains for your old man PFT. "Love you guys".
KW Kane
June 9, 2023
Dear Judy - Thank you so much for calling with your message about David´s memorial service. You´re right. I can no longer face driving into 95/Fairfax traffic, and I´m sorry I cannot attend. I´m sure it will be a lovely service. I´m sending some flowers to the UU´s Hunter Mill Rd address, to be delivered 6/11 before 1:00, so you can figure out some place to put them among the many others there. I remember well the day you two married, and some years later meeting Roger and Eric as young boys. What a beautiful and accomplished family! I´ve read the online obituary and the many lovely tributes there. I´ve enjoyed reading about his basketball exploits at McLean HS. I remember David as a terrific tennis player/athlete, trying unsuccessfully to teach me how to roll a forehand sharply crosscourt, and also as a smart, funny, thoughtful, and gentle soul. He was truly one-of-a-kind and will be deeply missed. Love to all, Kay W Kane Williamsburg VA
Jacques LaMarre
June 7, 2023
My condolences to the Sollenberger family on the sudden passing of David - to many just `Solly´. Hard for me to say something that will sooth the pain that lingers; so I´m just going to reminisce about one small event. Around 1958/59 after school at Church Hill Road Elementary, Solly was waiting for a bus home or perhaps a ride from his parents, and there he was giving me pointers on `one legged squats´. Two or three years later, at 5´9 1/2" he was close to dunking the ball at MHS. And I´m not sure he was ever 5´10"! He had a set of `hams´ on him! Solly was versatile but quiet, truly a National Merit Student Athlete! By his example alone he could raise others a notch or two to be better then they thought they could be! It might have been that twinkle in his eye.
I will miss him, and I was so glad to have had lunch with him this year. He was the same smart, gentle, funny Solly.
Durwood Edwards
June 7, 2023
Gave me tennis lessons, beat me in chess, outcooked me, confounded me with his relentless barrage of sudoku puzzles.
Cindy & Brad Draeger
June 7, 2023
Though our hearts are filled with such wonderful and joyful life memories, they are filled with grief for you, Roger, Eric and the family, by the loss of David. Our first friends in Virginia, the daily tennis matches, each other´s baby showers, the birth of your two spectacular sons, our two spectacular sons, and of course David, (our plan A) being called at 5 am to endlessly babysit Michael while Stephen was born. Loving the introduction to Peking duck at both your Florida Ave. home and with Howard and Agnus in McLean, while listening to all their amazing international adventures. David introducing us to his terrific sister, Zoe, for the first time at the plant nursery. And of course, we will always cherish David´s play dates at the playground with the boys, the great conversations at our many shared meals and the continual laughter when the four of us were together. As Roger and Eric so exactly described their Dad, a person filled with incredible love and kindness.
Our love to you all, and may the precious memories of David fill your hearts, as they have ours.
Cindy, Brad, Michael, and Stephen Draeger
Joanne Bario, né Tumolo
June 7, 2023
So sorry to hear of your family's loss. I knew David at McLean High School, where he was in many of my classes. Though a graduated from undergraduate and graduate school at GWU, I never knew him there. I'm sorry that I didn't get to know him better. My condolences to your family.
Sigrid Campbell
June 7, 2023
Sigrid Campbell
June 7, 2023
Sigrid Campbell
June 7, 2023
Sigrid Campbell
June 7, 2023
I am Sigrid ( nee Every) Campbell´s David´s first cousin from New Zealand, my late mother Ferne( nee Sollenberger) was David´s dad Howard´s older sister.Lhasa the privilege of travelling from NZ several times to visit 1287 Berry Place to stay with the Sollenberger family and get to know my cousins David Roger and Zoë firstly in 1966 and several times after.
I remember dear David as a friendly wonderful man. But what stands out about David is his brilliant continuation of his teachings from his dad Howard to carry on the legacy of Chinese banquet cooking. Peking Duck and Chinese Hot Pot. I enjoyed these banquets whenever I visited.
Sigrid Campbell
June 7, 2023
Peggy Ament
June 6, 2023
I could tell he brought joy to everyone in his life. My most heartful condolences.
Bob Loehne
June 6, 2023
Solly came to the bright lights for me when he was just a freshman at McLean High School and playing on THE & OUR varsity basketball team ... REALLY! Really ... Just a darned young freshman!
Then with Falls Church high school ahead by one point with maybe 3 or 4 seconds remaining, Solly took the inbound pass at the other end of the court, dribbled at high speed to near the half court line where at full speed he threw the ball up in the air toward our basket, and then hardly a microsecond later the game ending buzzer went off loud and clear, and then that silly basketball - not having a care in the world about that even sillier buzzer - went right through OUR HOOP & NET not only to give McLean the victory, but more importantly, to
in-explicitly introduce David Sollenberger to our very fortunate high school community ... YEP ... as a guy we - and any other community he touched - could count on for the rest of our lives!
For me, David had turned on the bright lights when he was just a freshman in high school and cool as a cucumber, letting us see a sparkling example of what lay ahead for his classmates.
McLean had won by one point! There was no question that this guy would be a fabulous sports star and as I got to know him thru various sports we played together, I realized he would be far more than just a sports spectacular. And he certainly was!
It is sad, losing anyone, especially such a friendly leader as David, but this announcement is both cheerful for me to think of all the good times I was lucky enough to share with him, but certainly sad in his personal community´s loss. May his brightness continue to shine over all of us and especially his family. The best to all his associates and especially our high school community and his family that was so fortunate to be part of his life.
My apologies if I got carried away, but that man was beyond my imagination!
Thad Hodgdon
June 4, 2023
I remember Solly from our 4 years at McLean High School where we played on the freshman football team and the Varsity basketball and baseball teams we played on together. He was the best high school athlete I knew. But he also was a deep thinker and just a great guy. Rest in peace my friend.
Stephanie Luxford
June 4, 2023
I was a tiny tot when I met David, who used his extraordinary photography skills to take pictures of my siblings and me. He was a friend of my parents. He was always smiling and was kind and wonderful. Later my family babysat his beautiful white dog Mischka. What an extraordinary and gifted person...David was one of the best humans to roam this planet. I wish him and his family peace.
John (Jack) Blackburn
June 4, 2023
Played two years with Solly, basketball and football, but I was one of the many friends of his that had to transfer to
G C MARSHALL and eventually lost touch but he was a friend and a really solid man!!! Go in peace Solly you are missed...
Art Evans
June 4, 2023
I was a teammate of David on the undefeated 1960 McLean HS freshman football team. He was arguably the best receiver on the team. I was wondering about the story of his injury. I also knew Roger fairly well.
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