Today at Belmont Town Hall, Paul Solomon’s family led a lovely memorial celebration of his life. I had the privilege of serving on the Belmont Select Board with Paul Solomon from 2002 to 2007. I spoke these words:
Paul Solomon was a true public servant. He contributed so much to this community: he served for decades on Town Meeting, chaired our Vision 21 process, and served six years on the Select Board.
He was, of course, first of all a physician — someone who gave his life to caring for people, and in particular to caring for children. A pediatrician has to have special listening skills: the ability to make a child comfortable in talking, and to listen carefully to what they’re saying with their undeveloped language skills and their limited understanding of what’s happening to them. So he was a great active listener — somebody who really saw and heard his patients. Those listening skills are central to good public service. He was somebody who really listened to, saw, and cared for his constituents.
Also as a physician, he was someone who was responsible — he made life-and-death decisions, or recommendations, for people. He was thoughtful, he did his homework, and he was decisive. He was capable of putting his mind around an issue and taking a position — central attributes for public leadership.
He was a natural leader, and others in other contexts recognized his talents. Through his career he developed valuable organizational experience, serving in the Air Force and rising to leadership roles in Harvard Community Health and other organizations as a physician.
Whether from natural gifts or from his experience, he brought to the board a good intuitive sense of how to lead the town in a collaborative way — how to fit in and work with all the other town leaders – some elected, some appointed – all of whom were also trying to serve the public in their own way. He had good judgment about what to get involved with and what not to get involved with — where he could help and where it was better for him not to rush in.
He was a very effective member of the Select Board, and a joy to serve with at the Select Board table. He was always cool-tempered and always funny; he asked the right questions, and could articulate clearly what he thought. He added a lot of value.
It should be acknowledged that Paul’s election in 2002 was a watershed election. For decades, there had been intense factional competition in the town — 100 people holding signs on one side of the street, 100 people holding signs on the other. We just don’t have that anymore. Paul ran for the board in his 70s with no motive but to do good, and when he won, he showed charity to all and malice toward none. With his election, this town was able to transcend factionalism. We do, of course, still have bitter emotional conflicts — that’s inevitable — but we no longer divide along hardened lines of factional competition.
His contributions live on in all of us and in the community around us. He was a wonderful public servant.
I met Paul when I was fairly new to Belmont and volunteered for the Vision Implementation Committee. He was supportive and welcoming and clearly committed to seeing the Vision through. Yours is both a lovely and, from my experience, an accurate description of his many fine qualities. Thanks for sharing, and may Paul’s memory be a blessing.
Lovely remembrance, Will. I have such fond memories of Paul, working with him on campaigns and his leadership in Town government. He was a gem.
So sorry that we were away and unable to attend the service.
“ With his election, this town was able to transcend factionalism. We do, of course, still have bitter emotional conflicts — that’s inevitable — but we no longer divide along hardened lines of factional competition.”
“Every difference of opinion is not a difference of principle.” Thomas Jefferson, First Inaugural Address, 1801
The Republic lasted the better part of two centuries before the honor of lowering the flag for High Constitutional Officers was debased by partisanship. President Eisenhower opened a Pandoras Box, inaugurated by President Johnson in 1968, that unleashed the process of turning both Parties down the road of “violent factions” and it must be closed.
The flag of our Republic must be above partisanship lest we degenerate into factionalism.
Current case in point, When Senator Feinstein of California died, our Governor, the Governor of all of the Citizens of Massachusetts, Democrat and Republican alike, ordered the flag of our Republic be lowered to half staff, but when Senator Graham of S. Carolina died the Governor gave no such honor. Senator Graham was at least in the same good company as the dozens and dozens of Americans murdered by Palestinian terrorists on 10/7, which is a snub that on its face is an act pandering to the antisemitic anti-Zionists that walk amongst us.
It was wrong to give this National honor to the head of the Roman Catholic Church, as it was wrong to give it to Rev. Billy Graham, and for Fmr. Senator John Glenn. We must reverse Prez. Eisenhower’s formula.
“Please be advised that as a mark of respect and for the memory of Senator Dianne Feinstein, and in accordance with Presidential Proclamation, Governor Maura T. Healey has ordered the United States of America flag and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts flag be lowered to half-staff at all state buildings beginning immediately today, September 29, 2023, until sunset on the day of interment.
This gubernatorial order applies to:
1. The main or administration building of each public institution of the Commonwealth, e.g. town and city halls
2. Other state-owned or state-controlled buildings
3. All state military installations”
Please honor Paul Solomon by extending that spirit of Belmontonian unity to the Commonwealth.
Maybe the guy who sends out the notifications was off. It’s not too late to do the right thing.
https://www.mass.gov/info-details/flag-status
Thank you, Will, for celebrating Paul’s exceptional life and spirit with this thoughtful and all-embracing
remembrance.