Andres Solis
1932-11-30 1985-02-21
November 30th, 1932 - February 21st, 1985
Andy was a tremendous leader. Working in the community through the church gave him great satisfaction. Not only was he a leader, he was a teacher by the example he set. He left a legacy behind in terms of what he taught the community by his example.
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Andy was a tremendous leader. Working in the community through the church gave him great satisfaction. Not only was he a leader, he was a teacher by the example he set. He left a legacy behind in terms of what he taught the community by his example.
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Lorain Journal 1985 - Andres Solis dies, was Hispanic Leader
Andres Solis, named Lorain's Hispanic of the Year in 1984, died in a hospital in Dearborn Michigan, yesterday. Solis, 52, was in Dearborn helping to plan Ford's Motor Co. project of building a plant in Hermosillo, Mexico. A Ford spokesman said Solis was taken to Oakwood Hospital in Dearborn, Monday, after complaining of chest pains.
In Lorain, Solis was active in the Sacred Heart Chapel, 4301 Pearl Avenue. He held leadership positions in the parish council, served on the board of directors and was chairman of the committee that plans the church's annual festival. "That really gives me satisfaction," he said in an interview last year.
He was instrumental in getting Sacred Heart Manor Apartments built several years ago. The apartments serve as housing for the elderly. He also led the board of directors of the Sacred Heart Community Corp. which oversees the operation of the apartments.
"He was a tremendous leader," said Eugene Rivera, a friend of Solis and former director of El Centro. "He was the type of person who worked in the community through the church. This is a tremendous loss to our commnity. People like Andres, unfortunately, are not common in our society. Not only was he a leader, he was a teacher by the example he set. But he has also left a legacy behind in terms of what he taught the community by his example.
Carmen Melendez, Sacred Heart's parish secretary, said Solis was dedicated to getting the apartments built. "It entailed many, many long hours and many sleepless nights, I'm sure," she said.
Although Solis had been working in Michigan, he returned to Lorain every weekend and attended Sunday Mass, Ms. Melendez said. "He was very dear to us here and very much loved," she said. "He was always willing to give of himself."
Rocky Ortiz, director of El Centro, said Soli's work on the parish council and for the apartments is immeasureable. "I believe through his dedication and work, these things became reality," Ortiz said. "People like him are the ones who took the extra mile."
Solis, born in Silao, Mexico, moved to Lorain in 1951. He worked for U.S. Steel for four years before being laid off in 1961. After that he worked for a small camera shop in downtown Lorain where he did some work for Ford Motor Co. and he was later hired by the automaker.
He began on the production line, working his way through the ranks before becoming a process engineer in 1970. He began working in Ford's body and assembly headquarters in Dearborn early this year to assist in planning the Mexican plant.
He is survived by his wife, Felisa, and four children, Teresa of Inkster, Mich.; Benjamin of Cleveland; Margarita of Akron and Celina at home.
Funeral arrangements are being handled by the John J. Gluvna Funeral Chapel, Lorain.