Bruce C. Soltis

Chief Petty Officer USN SEAL (Ret.) Bruce C. Soltis, 51 of Goodyear, Arizona died suddenly on September 5, 2013 in an off-road motorcycle accident.  He was born on October 18, 1961 to Ronald Bruce Soltis (USAF deceased 1978 on active duty), a fighter pilot, and Judith (Soltis nee Daly) Moore at Johnson Air Station, Yokota, Japan.  Growing up an Air Force brat, he traveled the world with his family. In Turkey, he came face to face with the Judeo-Christian historical sites that laid the foundation for his lifelong spiritual journey. As a young Navy SEAL, Bruce met, fell in love with and married his soulmate – Vernita…she was his heart! They were blessed with three beautiful children: Briana, Tyler and Mariah. With over 21 years of service in Naval Special Warfare, Bruce epitomized the definition of “God - Country - Family.” Bruce served in the US Navy from 8/19/83 to 9/30/04 as an HTC SEAL SDV pilot/combatant swimmer. In June ‘04, Bruce & Vernita retired from the Navy, packed up the family and moved to Arizona to start the next chapter of their lives. Not content with retirement, and because he needed the money, Bruce went to work as a Security Officer at the Palo Verde Nuclear Power Plant. He met so many more friends in this new profession who added another dimension to his life. This brings to mind his close friend, and spiritual advisor, George Lopez. With George’s inspiration and guidance, Bruce became a member of Congregation Baruch Hashem in Phoenix, Arizona. Bruce’s abiding love for our Lord Jesus Christ led him to become a Jew for Jesus!!! Amen!  Bruce inspired all he met with his infectious humor, self-deprecating wit and deep passion for life. Anyone who ever met him will tell you that he lived his life by the seat of his pants…from the moment he was born! At 7, he almost sawed his leg off trying to save his little brother, Chris, from the pine tar he had in his eyes…he never felt it. As teenagers, he and Chris were going hunting and Bruce accidentally shot himself in the leg with a .22. He tied a tube sock around the wound and continued to hunt…the doctor said he missed the nerve in his calf; by “that” much. He broke his neck in BUD/S, the first time he attempted that daunting task, by diving under a wave in the ocean. After the “halo” thing and he healed, he went back to BUD/S and made it, nothing broken this time! He fell out of the sky, once…and lived. He got jumped in Washington State, clobbered in the skull with a bottle that damaged his brain…and lived!!!! Even he knew he was always living on borrowed time…he thrived on that knowledge! He was an avid sportsman: hunting, fishing, swimming, skydiving…if there was a sport, Bruce was into it! He was also a huge sports fan; football, baseball, hockey, basketball…you name it, he watched it and cheered for his favorite teams. He loved riding his Harley with his biker “mama”, he got Vernita her own Harley for her birthday in 2011 and they spent many hours riding together after the kids moved out. At the time of his death he was in the desert doing what he loved…dirt biking. He was also an avid photographer and the man could bring you to your knees with his BBQ skills!!!!!  Can you say “tri tip” anyone?  Bruce cannot be defined by just one word…he was so many things to so many…he was a leader; a warrior; a lunatic! He was humorous, tenacious, ambitious, outgoing, sociable, loyal, charitable, generous, personable, warm and loving! Very few people knew that he was an extremely talented artist, he loved to paint! MacGyver had nothing on this guy! He could fix anything…bubble gum, duct tape & super glue is all he needed in his tool box! He always worked at being a better person and inspired everyone he came in contact with to be better, too.  Bruce leaves behind his loving wife of 30 years: Vernita (Solomon) Soltis, Daughters: Briana (Britta Bechler) Soltis, Mariah Soltis and James McKenzie, Son: Tyler Soltis, Sister: Marabeth (Barry) Holsinger Ph.D., Brothers, LTC(P) Christopher Soltis MD, USA and wife LTC Bryony Soltis MD, USA, Nieces: Lauren La Barge,      Madeline Soltis, Kaitlyn Soltis, Chloe Soltis,  Nephew: 1LT(P) Russell La Barge, USA, Parents: Judith Moore (mother) and Shirley (Larry Galloway) Solomon and Grandpamother: Eve Perkins.  He was preceded in death by:   Father(s): Lt. Col. Ronald Bruce Soltis, Larry P. “Butch” Moore, Father-in-law:  James Frank Solomon. Grandparents: Jonas and Margaret Soltis, John and Madeline Daly, Jr., Vernita and Clyde Simms, Frank Solomon, Aunt: Margot Pierzga.  A funeral service, with full military honors, will be held at New Life Romanian Church on Thursday, September 12, 2013, 3:00 PM (15:00 hours) at 4902 W. Tierra Buena Lane, Phoenix, AZ 85306.  The Patriot Guard Riders will escort Bruce’s remain to the service.  A Naval burial at sea will follow…date to be determined. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Wounded Warrior Project in Bruce Soltis’s name (woundedwarriorproject.org).Condolences can be sent to www.thompsonfuneralchapel.com. Arrangements are under the direction of Thompson Funeral Chapel in Goodyear, AZ.