Jay Lawrence Solod

Jay Lawrence Solod, age 84 of Knoxville, died Thursday, March 25, 2010 at his home. Jay was born on December 12, 1925 in Worcester, Massachusetts where he lived and attended school until he entered the United States Navy during World War II. After serving two years, he was honorably discharges and attended Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, graduating with a degree in English in 1950. For a brief period of time following graduation, he lived in New York City while pursuing a career in writing as a cub reporter for the New York Post. He spent a year working and traveling Europe and North Africa before returning to the United States. Jay married Fredlyn P. Kovitch and moved to Morristown where he opened Southern Furniture Supply, which he ran successfully until it’s sale in 1998. Jay made a second home on Cuttyhunk Island off the coast of Massachusetts where he spent summers for thirty years. Jay was never much of a joiner, but every group he participated in gained greatly by his presence. He was famous in Morristown for his work in the Theater Guild and held many executive positions in business organization, most notably as president of the National Cotton Batting Institute. Jay was a wonderful husband, a great father and a loyal friend. The number of people he helped in business over the years cannot be counted as he performed many kindnesses anonymously as a mitzvah should be performed. Jay loved golf, acting and traveling. He was active in community charity functions and was especially proud of how much money people were willing to donate at Theater Guild Fundraisers to hear him not sing… He will be greatly missed. Jay is preceded in death by his parents, Matthew and Amelia Solod and two sisters, Edith Solod Stryer and Frances Solod Krasnof. Jay is survived by his wife Donna Geckler Solod; daughters, Lisa Solod-Warren, Margo Solod and her partner Deborah Miranda, Nina Solod Brodeur and her husband Mark Brodeur; three grandchildren, Philip Stanhope Lambeth, Matthew Adam Brodeur and Grace Amelia Lambeth; four step-children and ten step-grandchildren.

Memorial gifts may be made to Knoxville Jewish Alliance or Mercy Hospice, 7447 Andersonville, Pike, Knoxville, TN 37932.