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I am writing in honour of my late cousin Mark Solomon, who
passed away much too soon in June 2003. He was loved deeply
and survived by his two daughters Pheobe and Miki, his parents
Eileen and Dave and siblings Robert, Bonnie-Sue and Matthew
and many cousins, aunts and uncles and friends in our large
and loving extended family.
Family meant everything to Mark – and it means everything
to us. As such, both the Solomon family and the Pantels got
together to create the Mark Solomon Memorial Scholarship Endowment
Fund to ensure his legacy and all that he stood for endures.
Mark was passionate about community, family and Jewish life.
He had a tremendous appreciation for growing up in a strong
Jewish community and a loving family where tradition, morals
and values were passed on through generations. He believed
all children should have the same kinds of opportunities.
His philosophy – and that shared by all of us –
was that the more you invest in educating children the better
off the world will be. No child should miss the opportunity
for an education.
Mark’s fund invests in Tel Hai Academic College’s
Centre for Gifted Children in Israel. The Scholarship Fund
is for children who socio-economically may not otherwise have
a chance for an education. And it’s not just for Jewish
children but also our neighbors in the secular community.
Kids are kids, after all, and Tzedakah is about helping all
our neighbors in need.
If Mark were to leave a message to his children and future
generations, it would likely be something like this:
Remember who you are and where you come from. Teach your
children well so that they carry forward the Jewish values
to their own children and future generations. Try to be there
for others in need.
He has always inspired us in life and he continues to do
so in memory.
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