John Solarz Jr.
September 13, 1921 - October 21, 2012
East Hartford, Connecticut
Visitation: 5:00pm - 7:00pm October 24, 2012 at Farley-Sullivan Funeral Home, 50 Naubuc Ave., Glastonbury, CT 06033
Graveside Service: 11:00am October 25, 2012 at Veterans Section of Neipsic Cemetery, Neipsic Rd., Glastonbury, CT 06033

John Solarz Jr., 91, of East Hartford, formerly of Glastonbury, husband of Leona (Nichols) Solarz, passed away peacefully Sunday, October 21, 2012. John was born September 13, 1921, in Hartford; he was the son of the late John and Stella (Danchuck) Solarz. John resided in Glastonbury until 1965, relocating to East Hartford. As a teenager John worked at the CCC to help his family during the great depression. John left home at the age of 17 to enlist in the Army of the United States, where he served our country during WWII, receiving two Purple Hearts as a result of wounds suffered at Tarawa. After the war, he worked at Pratt & Whitney but soon followed his dream to become a police officer and join the Glastonbury Police Department in 1950. He was employed by the Glastonbury Police Dept., where he rose through the ranks, becoming a Captain, then the acting police chief prior to his retirement in 1977. He was very active in civic organizations to include the VFW, Elks, American Legion, Lions Club, and The Police Chiefs Association. John will be fondly remembered by his loving family, his daughter and son-in-law, Diane and William Kenyon, of East Hartford; a sister, Teresa Watts of Glastonbury; five grandchildren: Jennifer Kenyon, William John Kenyon, Christina Bassett, Cyndy Godreau, and Bryon Parkhurst: five great grandchildren, Austin, Daniel, Ryan, Crystal, and Scott, two great great grandchildren Aliyah, and Jayden, and several nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, John was predeceased by his first wife, Catherine (McCartha) Solarz; his son, John Solarz III; his siblings, Ted, Charlie, Michael, Annie, Josephine, Mary and Sophie. Friends and relatives may pay their respects on Wednesday, October 24, 2012 from 5-7pm at the Farley-Sullivan Funeral Home, 50 Naubuc Ave., Glastonbury. Funeral Procession from Farley Sullivan will begin at 10:15am, Thursday, October 25th, with a graveside service at 11am in the Veterans Section of Neipsic Cemetery, Neipsic Rd., Glastonbury with full military and police honors. The family requests in lieu of flowers, that memorial donations are made in John’s name to the Glastonbury Police Dept. Scholarship Fund or Explorer Program, 2155 Main St., Glastonbury, CT 06033. To extend online condolences or for further information, please visit farleysullivan.com.