Anthony "Tony" Solano

Sunrise- 08/16/1921

Sunset- 07/12/2013

On Friday, July 12th 2013 after 92 wonderful years the world lost a most special man, Anthony "Tony" Solano.

Anthony was not a man of few words. Everyone he encountered was a friend whom he would hope would give him the time to listen to one of his many stories. Ones that included his days working for Ironworker's Local 24 building Denver from the ground up. You can't drive through town without thinking of him, seeing the sign over Union Station, the scoreboard at Bandemere Speedway, the old Stapleton Airport or the numerous buildings downtown that he worked on. His work was the passion of his life.

He was also very proud of serving his country in the Navy. He served from January 21, 1942 to October 14, 1945. He was the honored recipient of not one but two Purple Hearts after six invasions with General MacArthur and General Patton. He would never let anyone forget his story of being shot in the behind on his birthday and we can all still remember his laugh when he would tell it.

The only things he enjoyed speaking about more was his love for his Cadillac. With every new model he purchased he would get a shiny gold emblem to commemorate. The cars all stayed sheltered away in the garage until Sunday morning when he and his beloved wife of 65 years, Antonia "Toni" Solano would drive to Sunday mass at St. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, where he served as an usher for many years. His love for the Catholic religion and the church was so strong that in 2007 he was knighted as a 4th degree Knight for the Knights of Columbus.

Most of all, above anything else the only thing he loved more in life was his family. He recently celebrated 65 years with his lovely wife Toni, and even after all those years he would hold her hand and kiss her cheek like two teenagers in love. He was very proud of his children, six of them to be exact, Cathy (Bill) Gillette, Steve (Marie) Solano, Tony (Corrina) Solano, David (Olivia) Solano, Lori (Peter) Swolak, and James (Gina) Solano. As well as 13 grandchildren, TR (Sandra) Monaghan, Desiree (Scott) Solano, Sean (Caitlin) Monaghan, Angelina (Tony) Araujo, Justina Burciaga, Nicole (AJ) Solano-Thomas, James (Anna) Solano, Darius Solano, Ashley Solano, Jennifer (Eric) Granados, Natasha Swolak, Dominic Solano, Donovan Solano and an amazing 14 great-grandchildren. Anthony loved his grandchildren, he would spend hours with them in the garden, giving them rides in the wagon up and down the street, chasing them with the broom in the kitchen or hiding their food at the dinner table.

He has touched so many people and had such a strong impact on so many lives. He will be missed dearly and never forgotten.

Visitation Monday, July 15, 2013 from 5pm to 7pm at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, 3900 Pierce St., Wheat Ridge, Colorado, 80033. Recitation of the Holy Rosary, 7pm, on Monday, July 15th at the church. Mass of Christian Burial, Tuesday, July 16, 2013, 10:30am at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Wheat Ridge.

Interment and Military Honors will take place at Fort Logan National Cemetery, 3698 S. Sheridan Blvd, Denver, Colorado, 12:30pm, staging area "B". Honors will be performed by the Unitied States Navy.

Memorial contributions may be made in Tony's name to the Alzheimer's Association, 455 Sherman St., Denver, CO 80203, 303.813.1669 or www.alz.org.