SOLON, Eugene Solon, a scholar, artist and wordsmith at heart, Eugene Rosen Solon was born April 29th, 1925 in Hartford. Son to Max and Bella and older brother to Dorothy, Yeinkel, as Gene was known, welcomed every aspect of life and sought to experience, absorb and embrace all he could. Following high school, Yeinkel enlisted in the Army during WWII, entering active service in July 1943. A sergeant and radio mechanic, Yeinkel was proudly and honorable discharged in March 1946. The GI Bill along with Yeinkel?s talent as a pianist enabled him to enroll in the University of Connecticut from where he graduated in 1949 with bachelors in psychology. Upon graduation, Yeinkel entered into business with his father as co-owner of the Hudson Curtain Shop with stores in Hartford, Farmington and Stratford Connecticut. Yeinkel married Suzanne Eleanor Friend, October 27th, 1963 adopting son Jeff and daughter Jessica. Yeinkel and Suzanne had together a son, Kendall. A true renaissance man, Yeinkel entered his own upon the sale of the family business in 1975. Always involved in the arts, Yeinkel began his professional career in the arts that year, becoming the general manager of the Hartford Chamber Orchestra. He subsequently ran several art galleries, was president of the Hartford Jazz Society and ultimately retired as a Grant Supervisor for the Connecticut Commission on the Arts. Yeinkel was involved in numerous artistic endeavors and a fixture in the Hartford art scene. He MC?ed all manner of events most notably hosting the summer jazz series in Bushnell park. Yeinkel was also host of a weekly classical music show for WWUH in Hartford. After retiring, Yeinkel moved to Tucson Arizona to be with his daughter Jessica and her husband Moshe Issaharov in 1997. Yeinkel continued his involvement in the arts as a patron to many art, theater and music organizations and as a member of the Tucson Pima Arts Council. Yeinkel?s interests and thirst for knowledge were boundless. He could do a crossword, tell you the statistics of the Red Sox, talk religion, politics science, anything really, and then fix your plumbing. He loved music, art, conversation, food gadgets and most of all family. Yeinkel made everyone around him better and gave to those he knew, true joy and provided great entertainment. On October 6th, 2008, Gene died peacefully and on his terms in the presence of his sons Jeff, Moshe and Kendall. He is survived by sons Jeffrey Charles Solon and Kendall Michael Solon, son in-law Moshe Issaharov and grandchildren Sonia and Max Issaharov and Lucas Solon. Funeral services will be held Friday, October 10, 2008 at 1:00 pm in the Chapel of the Weinstein Mortuary, 640 Farmington Ave., Hartford with interment in the Albany Jewish Center Cemetery, Hartford. A service in Tucson Arizona will be held the following week at a time to be determined. Donations may be made in the name of Eugene R. Solon to either of his two favorite organizations; The American Cancer Society, 538 Preston Ave., P.O. Box 1004, Meriden 06450 or to the Anti-Defamation League, 1952 Whitney Ave., Hamden 06517. For further information, directions or to share memories of Eugene with his family, please visit online at www.weinsteinmortuary.com.