Harry I. Sollie

Harry I. Sollie, beloved husband, father, grandfather, uncle and friend, passed away on May 15, 2023 in Mooresville, NC, at the age of 88. Harry formerly lived in Rochester and Hamilton, NY.

Harry was born to Harry and Mary Sollie in Great Bend, PA, and grew up in Hamilton. He was a star athlete in high school and in his senior year was named All-State Halfback. While serving in Korea during the Korean War, he also played football for the US Eighth Army, and loved telling stories of flying to Japan to play in inter-Army games. Harry served as a PFC in the Military Police, for which he received a great deal of ribbing from fellow veterans. In his younger years, Harry was known as Sonny.

After completing his service in the Army, Harry graduated from SUNY Morrisville, NY, with a degree in food technology. He completed a successful career in the food and beverage industry working at Richardson Foods, Curtice-Burns, Canada Dry and Genesee Brewery, from which he retired. Fellow employees remember him as a serious but garrulous supervisor, always ready to listen, and intent on meeting all his goals. Harry regularly told an outrageous story of his time at Canada Dry when non-returnable bottles were first introduced, and the production line was punctuated by countless explosions of glass bottles, caused because the first bottles were out-of-round and unable to sustain pressure.

Harry was known for his warmth and sense of humor and could always find the lighter aspects in everything he did. His stories included such gems as stopping to retrieve his hat before fielding a towering hit to the outfield playing baseball for Hamilton Central School, and flipping a basketball from hand to hand behind his back before dunking for a score. Harry had an extraordinary ability to forego sleep, and in his younger years worked two jobs at a time, easily getting by on two or three hours of sleep a night, yet his sense of humor never suffered. Harry shared his love of fishing, campfires and boating on Lake Moraine, NY with his children and grandchildren.  After retirement, wherever he lived, Harry was up early and meeting his friends for morning coffee, leading the laughter while he regaled everyone with his stories. Harry was selfless and intrepid, always willing to help other people. His kind-heartedness extended beyond his immediate family to anyone who needed help. On more than one occasion he even helped a shy relative ask a girl out for a date.

While at SUNY Morrisville, Harry married Roberta Ann Bartlett, with whom he had three children, Tammy, Keith and Erika. Harry later married his wife of 47 years, Mary Ann Sollie, and loved spending time with his wife’s daughters, Dawn and Denise. Harry has seven grandchildren: Virginia, Victoria, Allison, Kayla, Kelsey, Farrah and Brennen. He will be dearly missed by the many people fortunate enough to know and spend time with him. 

Harry was predeceased by his parents, Harry and Mary, his brother Ralph, and his beloved son, Keith. He leaves behind countless cherished memories that will be forever a part of the those who knew him.  

Harry made richer the lives of everyone he encountered along his way. Though we mourn his loss deeply, it is important to remember that he lived his life to its fullest, and that he will be remembered and cherished forever. At Harry’s request, there will be no services. Donations can be made in his memory and directed to: Welcome Home Veteran, Inc./Richards Coffee House & Military Museum, 165 N. Main Street, Mooresville, NC 28115. In his later years, this is where Harry went every Thursday to have coffee with his friends and fellow veterans—a very special place for vets!