Phoenixville Citizen, Active Volunteer, Former Reporter Dies At 88

Image and obituary courtesy Campbell Ennis Klotzbach Funeral Home.

PHOENIXVILLE, PA -- Estelle B. Solomon, 88, passed away on Thursday, October 6, 2016. Estelle was a proud citizen of her adopted hometown of Phoenixville, a proud member of B'nai Jacob Congregation - her synagogue community for six decades, and - most of all - a proud Bubby (grandmother) to her own family and to generations of children and grandchildren in the community.

Estelle was born in 1927 to Bernard A. and Rebecca Stoltz Bernard. A graduate with honors from Upper Darby High School and Dickinson College (class of 1949), Estelle lived a full and rich life, and was always occupied with pursuits that improved the world and her community. She covered the Phoenixville Area School Board as a reporter for the Daily Republican (later, the Evening Phoenix); she taught religious school at B'nai Jacob; and she mentored countless teens and young adults throughout her lifetime. Estelle came to Phoenixville with her husband and two of her three sons in 1955 (her third son arrived in 1959) and began her community involvement at the Schuylkill School PTA and organizing for the March of Dimes. She continued her volunteer activities for the next 60 years most recently helping to staff the medical records department at the Phoenixville Hospital each year on Christmas. She served as President of the synagogue's Sisterhood and as a decades-long member of its Board of Trustees. She also served on the boards of the Visiting Nurse Association and New Century Bank. In addition, Estelle was a very early activist on behalf of the civil rights movement, a passionate Zionist and supporter of the State of Israel, and a willing and eager supporter of any cause or person she felt needed a helping hand. She shared her life, her devotion, and her love with her husband of 46 years, Dr. Macy B. Solomon, of blessed memory. Though he predeceased her in 1995, their love and their relationship never died, and the values, principles and life priorities they shared continued to inspire and guide her throughout the remainder of her life. Estelle became Macy's office manager in the latter part of his career, deepening relationships with the patients in his practice who still value that special connection.

"Bubby" was the matriarch of her family and her community, a fierce and formidable defender of those whose cause she embraced, and a loving and powerful presence in the lives of her children, her grandchildren and her great grandchildren. Estelle leaves behind three sons who loved her and who will miss her everyday: Dr. Dean Solomon (and Dr. Judith Katz), Jacob Solomon (and Dr. Mindy Hersh), and Dr. David Solomon (and Claudia Summer); grandchildren: Hannah (and Bill), Judah (and Taryn), Gretchen (and Joe), Martin (and Alana), Zachary, Sophie, Daniel, and Jesse; and great grandchildren: Macy, Toby, Ruthie and one on the way. Her memory will forever be as a blessing to them all.
Funeral services will take place on Sunday, October 9th, at 2:00 pm, at Congregation B'nai Jacob, Starr and Manavon Streets, Phoenixville, PA 19460. The family will be sitting shiva and receiving visitors at Estelle's house (The Barn) after the services on Sunday through Tuesday morning. Contributions in Estelle's memory may be made to Congregation B'nai Jacob. Arrangements are being handled by the Campbell-Ennis-Klotzbach Funeral Home, Inc., Main Street at Fifth Avenue, Phoenixville, PA.