Mr. Solomon S. Grossman

American, 1928 - 2015

BiographyJune 26, 1928 - May 17, 2015. As a child Sol was so drawn to music that although told to stay in the car when his father went to run an errand, he was compelled to follow the strains of gospel music spilling from a church. When found by police who asked why he ran away, young Sol said "I thought I heard angels, and wanted to see them!" His father said, "We have music at home." He responded "Not like that!" Sol received a BA in philosophy from William and Mary College and remained a life-long learner, reading biographies weekly. His father Irving died young. Sol and his brother Ivan needed to take over the family dry cleaning business in New Jersey. Their main goal was to provide for their mother Rose and younger sister Florence. They later expanded into real estate in New York and New Jersey. Sol lived with his partner, Ron Kane in New York and spent summers in the Hamptons. Every autumn they went to Paris. Sol and Ron were committed philanthropists whose donations live on at the Met, Gracie Mansion and the White House. They hosted classical concerts in their homes, and walked their German Shepherds in Central Park. Sol loved spending time with his nieces and nephews; he taught them to drive, took them to concerts and shared his passion for the arts and history. Sol had a massive stroke in 1982, but with tenacity and courage managed to recover and live a full life. As his condition worsened, he made Palm Desert his winter home, spending time with friends and family there. His superb caregivers Ray Lopez and Jason Marbella kept Sol healthy and strong for many years. He will be dearly missed by many, including his longtime assistant, Cathy Sakalian, his caregivers, innumerable friends, and nieces, and nephews Dian, Nancy, Laurie and Jane Grossman, Nina Rosen, Johnny Platzer, Ariel and Perrin Wright, Sarah Samuel, and Kenny and Elizabeth Rosen. - See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/nytimes/obituary.aspx?pid=175124428#sthash.P24epey9.dpuf

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