Dear Anita (and the rest of the Solan family),

I was saddened to hear of Larry’s passing.  Though we had not been in touch in quite a while, my fond memories of him date back to the 60’s, when we spent the summer in Oxford taking classes. A chance meeting dozens of years later on NJ Transit made me realize that my early impressions of him as a scholar and a gentleman were spot on.

Please accept my deepest condolences.

Paula M. Levine

Dear Anita, Renata and David,

I am so sorry to hear of Larry’s passing. He was such a kind and engaging person and always a good friend to Mark. I will always remember times we spent at your home, your kindness as a family and Larry’s welcoming smile and good nature. 

With heartfelt sympathy,
Roberta Baltin

Professor Solan made a profound and lasting impression on me as a first-year law student. I am so grateful to have been assigned to his Property course; he made me not only comprehend the material, but actually care about it and enjoy it! Not only by virtue of his obvious knowledge and understanding of the subject, but by his humor, kindness, and generosity. To this day I credit him for my ability to untangle family trees; I had never understood "cousins ___ removed" until he explained it in class, and a switch flipped. It has since become an interest of mine and I'm so glad he helped me understand it! 

My fondest memory of Prof. Solan is when he and Prof. Sebok donated a wine tasting to the BLSPI auction--a friend and I really wanted it but were ruthlessly outbid. We told Prof. Solan the next day how disappointed we were, and he was horrified to see that my friend was in tears! He looked at me and said, "wow, she's really upset about this!" and immediately offered to put together a second wine tasting for us since it was, after all, for charity. We and a few others from our section had the most wonderful evening feeling sophisticated with Profs. Solan and Sebok. 

Professor Solan was incredibly smart, approachable, and caring; he will be sorely missed.

I am sorry for your tremendous loss. I saw the last name Solan, and realized that Fern was his sister. I went to Lowell School with Fern.  I am sorry for the pain that family and friends are going through.

Larry was a dear colleague and mentor to me as a teacher, scholar, and administrator. Indeed, he was instrumental in my having an academic career at Brooklyn Law School at all. He served the school with distinction, devotion, humility, and grace. My time as associate dean, though not exactly easy, was made immensely easier by Larry's many contributions and innovations as my predecessor in that role. I owe him various professional debts that I cannot repay and will never forget.

But mostly what I'll remember when I think of Larry is how much fun he was. A speaker at his memorial service put in perfectly in observing that, in a room full of people you knew, Larry is the one you would seek out for a conversation. In any encounter with him, however long or brief, I was very likely to learn something and certain to enjoy myself.

There is a lot one can  say about Larry as a friend a nd colleague but I was fortunate to have both our offices on the 9th floor to share so many conversations together But the one thing I remember especially was that Larry was a family man He really was proud of Anita and her accomplishments and the art of his son ( he took me to an exhibition in Chelsea years ago) and his daughter’s achievements. He loved being a grandfather. Since retiring I did not see him much but he was part of the law school family He will me missed 
Arthur Pinto

My deepest condolences to Anita and to Renata and David and families. Your sorrow must be immense.

I see it as one of the great achievements in my life to have been able to call Larry one of my friends. His insights and knowledge were immense and have helped me a lot in developing my own ideas. But what was truly astonishing was his enduring openness to listen to people he did not know, to connect with them and to really make them feel valuable. I experienced that myself 20 years ago, being invited to Brooklyn for a conference and also having the opportunity of a long and very fruitful research stay at Brooklyn Law School. Larry (and of course Anita) went to great length to help with practicalities and even had me stay in their house as much as I wanted. Larry will be deeply missed, not only due to his disciplinary role, but especially as the kind and supporting person he was for all of us.

I received the incredibly sad news of Larry's passing with disbelief. I first met him at a session organized by Peter Tiersma during the LSA international conference in Glasgow, Scotland, back in 1996. Both Peter and Larry were remarkable scholars who began their careers in linguistics and later pursued JD and lawyership. Through them, I gained valuable insights into the intersection of language and law from a legal perspective. Peter's untimely passing in 2014 was a shock to me, and I had hoped Larry would live much longer, taking Peter's place. To lose Larry at the age of 71 feels much too soon.

I remember discovering that Larry's son David and my son Ginichi are of the same age during another LSA meeting in Vancouver in 2002. Subsequently, David visited us in Japan, spending the New Year holidays with us.

My heartfelt condolences go out to Larry's wife Anita, his daughter Renata, and David from myself, Ginichi, and my husband Hideki.

My sincere condolences to Anita and all of Larry’s family on this great loss.

Larry had many families that treasured him, including the faculty and students at Brooklyn Law School, his professional home for most of his career. 

As a faculty colleague, I so appreciated his brilliance, wisdom, kindness, and wry humor.  Larry had the ability to defuse tense moments with his level headed comments and deep well of humor, and to make scholarly conversations of all kinds soar.  

I am glad to have been able to count Larry Solan as a friend, and glad that the law school’s recent festschrift gave us a chance to tell Larry himself how highly we thought of him and his contributions to law, language, and cognition. 

Sincerely,
Susan Herman

My heartfelt condolences to Larry's friends and family. He was such a lovely person and my life is so much richer for having known him.

I first got to know Larry at a summer school in Aston, he was asking after the hotel gym. There wasn't one, but I took him to the uni gym the next morning. He was a machine (I had to pretend to keep up)! But what I loved was his kindness. He really took the time to get to know people, and always made people feel listened to. His work was incredible, but his personality was even better. Such a gentle, kind, supportive, and fun person.  He will be remembered.

Big hugs to all rxxxxxxxxxx

I have known Larry since graduate school at UMass, where he gave me one amazing piece of advice that I have passed on to others throughout my career and used myself ever since.  I was writing my dissertation on language acquisition, the same field in which Larry wrote his.  He was a good friend, and I confided in him.  "Larry," I said, "I can't do this.  I can't keep my tush in the chair.  I have all day to work, but every time I write a sentence, I decide it's no good and I toss it.  And the next day, the same thing."  This was just before PCs, and I was going through a lot of typewriter ribbons -- but that wasn't the problem. I had a deadline.  I had to finish.  "How can I get this done? , I whined."  "OK, Janet," he said, "here's what you do.  You write 2 pages.  Every day.  It doesn't matter if they're good or not.  Just sit in the chair long enough to crank out 2 pages."  "But with 2 pages a day I'll never have enough!"   I was panicking.  "You'll see," he said.  "2 pages.  That's all."  So I started.   The first day I managed to get 2 pages out.  The next day, I wrote 2 pages, too.  The third day, I wrote 2 more, but I couldn't stop there.  I was on a roll.  I wrote 6.  The next day, 8.  And so it went.  Some days 2, some days 8,  some days a whole section.  And that's how it got done.  With time to spare.  
Later on, Larry  and I started collaborating in the field of linguistics & law and we ran a set of experiments with my research assistants in my LingLawLab at Northeastern.  The result of that work is just about to appear in a jointly authored chapter in the Cambridge Handbook of Experimental Jurisprudence.  I always loved talking to Larry --  thinking about experiments, batting ideas around, or just sharing  our many common interests, from syntactic ambiguity, to opera, to the best places to buy bialies.  I will miss his humor, his academic partnership, and his wisdom.  But I'll always have his two-page rule, something I'll always remember him by.

Liz Schneider
Friend

Dear Anita and Larry’’s family,
      I am so sorry to hear of Larry’s death. Larry was a dear friend and colleague at Brooklyn Law School over many years. I am so grateful that we were able to celebrate his life, work and contributions to BLS, last November, and to see him in person. He was warm, funny and a wonderful person. Incredibly smart and thoughtful . I remember a wonderful birthday party in South Orange many years ago.  I will miss him and I send love to all of you, 
      Liz Schneider

To the Solan family: It was an honor and a pleasure to have been Larry’s faculty colleague for all of his years at Brooklyn Law School.  His contribution to the institution was enormous.  Please accept my condolences on your loss. My thoughts are with you.  Respectfully,  Joel Gora

Larry,      
A very dear friend, an innovative researcher, a writer of great clarity, a wonderful speaker, an inspirational teacher, and in all situations a born entertainer. 
We shall not look upon his like again

Dear Anita and Family,

I owe so much to Larry for facilitating my move to Brooklyn Law School and for making me always feel at home there. He was not only a fantastic colleague in traditional ways but also a lively office hallmate to catch up on all the latest. I sent some emails to Larry in his later days that tried to convey how much I appreciate what he did for me and for the law school, and I hope he knew my appreciation (which, of course, I should have expressed more loudly and more often). He will be deeply missed by me and the legal academy, and I send my condolences to all his friends and family.

Sincerely,
Adam Kolber

My deepest condolences to Larry's family. 

Larry had this incredible presence wherever he went. His kindness, humour and intelligence will always be remembered. Larry is in our thoughts and hearts.

With sympathy,
Tanya

Saddened to hear about Larry's passing.

Larry was such a great scholar and a good person. I first met Larry at the Aston Summary School in 2009, where I met him and Peter for the first time. So sad that both of them are now gone, but will be sorely missed by all of us. 

I will never forget the wonderful weekend I spent with him in Praia Brava after Malcolm's conference in 2013. We had a lovely stroll along the beautiful beach together with Malcolm and Carmen after our lunch at Malcolm and Carmen's holiday flat.  Earlier that year, I had the pleasure of meeting Larry and his wife Anita in Hong Kong. We had Peking duck and hairy crabs in a Chinese restaurant - such fond memories will always be with me for the rest of my life.  My thoughts are with his family and I'm terribly sorry for their loss.

We had the pleasure and fortune of meeting Larry as David’s dad. As we got to know Larry, it became evident that David’s creative personality, and success in his challenging pursuit in life, is a reflection of his family and upbringing. In time, he became more than a friend; a valued family member. He was a special soul with a strong sense of justice, integrity, breadth of vision and openness to the world and its cultures, full of caring and kindness. He was an exemplary father who loved, showed understanding, compassion and sacrificed for his family. With his sense of humor and the youthful glitter in his eyes, he was a true friend. We are fortunate that our paths crossed, and that we got the chance to know the Solan family. Larry touched our lives with his positive energy, allowed us to make valued memories which will keep his light alive in our hearts and minds forever. Larry was a cherished friend and we wish all his loved ones the strength and patience to live with the gap he left behind.

To Larry's family: 

My deepest condolences. I met Larry through the Brooklyn Law School community as an alum  and as a friend and colleague of mother, Margaret Berger,  who taught at BLS and thought so highly of him. It was hard not to be wowed by Larry: brilliant yet unpretentious, enthusiastic and caring for his students. When my son, Noe ( a computational linguist) became interested in linguistics as an undergraduate, Larry graciously met with and encouraged him. I always enjoyed seeing and speaking with Larry,  he was just so down to earth and enthusiastic. I will always think of him fondly.

Professor Solan taught Property class, during my first year of law school at BLS, over 20 years ago.  I subsequently got to know him better serving briefly as his research assistant the following summer.  His sense of humor made his class my instant favorite my first semester (frankly, through all of law school.) I will never forget how he tapped into the entire class's intense fear and nervous energy over final exams, as he told us that he knew how we were all feeling the last day of class.  He then wheeled a tv into the room (yes- that's how old we were) and played the clip from the film Network where the newscaster encouraged all viewers to rise from their seats and declare they were "mad as hell and not going to take it anymore!"  

Professor Solan was not only a clear empath with a tremendous sense of humor, but was also deeply kind and committed to his students.  

His passing is a loss for not only the BLS community, but for all of the lives he touched.  Professor Solan will be missed.  

May his memory be a blessing.

Werner Gephart

I am deeply saddened by the passing of Larry Solan. He was a fellow at the Käte Hamburger Centre for Advanced Studies in the Humanities "Law as Culture", which I directed. His analysis of the alleged non-contract between Stormy Williams and Donald Trump was so brilliant that from then on all of us at the centre knew what a giant we were dealing with: modest, elegant in his reasoning and deeply human. This is how I lose a friend, even if I never told him that ...

Larry was one of the first faces who greeted me on the halls of the 9th floor at 250 Joralemon. He made me and my colleagues feel eminently welcome - no sense of ego despite his wealth of accomplishment and vast store of wisdom.

Toward the end, I was always hoping to see him at least one more time.  He truly was the soul of the place. Larry always had a sense of curiosity and care about how we supported students, and it was a joy to see that reflected in the way he taught and interacted with them. My deepest condolences to his family.

- Shane Dizon

Anita, Renata, David, I am so sorry for your loss. This is terribly sad news for all of us who loved him, but for his family, whom he loved most of all, I know this is devastating. Sending so much love. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.

My deep condolences to Professor Solan’s family. He was a fantastic teacher for me. And very kind. He will be missed.

Dear all, 

I am deeply saddened to hear about the passing of our beloved Larry. Losing someone who served as not just a mentor but also a guiding light through such a significant academic journey is indeed a profound loss. From what we’ve all shared, it's evident that his impact went far beyond the academic realm, touching our lives in deeply meaningful ways.

His willingness to accept the direction of my PhD project when I lost the guidance of my previous mentor, M.T. Turell, speaks volumes about his dedication and belief in the potential of FL. It's clear that he was not only supportive but also instrumental in helping me navigate through challenging times. We shared humorous moments together, conversing in "Spanish". These moments of levity amidst academic pursuits are often the ones we cherish the most, demonstrating the human connection that transcends professional boundaries.

His inspiration, encouragement, and welcoming demeanor have undoubtedly left an indelible mark on our academic journey and personal growth. While his physical presence may no longer be with us, his legacy lives on through the knowledge he imparted and the memories we shared.

During this difficult time of mourning, may you find solace in the fond memories and valuable lessons he gifted us. His spirit will continue to guide us as we carry forward his legacy in our academic pursuits and beyond.

Please accept my heartfelt condolences, and know that my thoughts are with you during this time of grief.

Big hug from Barcelona

Larry Solan was an inspiration to the students in my Language and Law classes, and to an even greater degree, to their instructor.   Larry's ability to discern, analyze, and explain linguistic issues in the law was unmatched by any commentator other than his frequent collaborator, Peter Tiersma.   The two of them did so with insight, precision, and (famously) wit.  Larry was generous with his precious time, to the great benefit of his colleagues and, indeed, to the legal profession.   A gentleman and a scholar, he will be deeply missed.

I am so sorry to hear this.  I had Professor Solan as a first year and worked for him as his research assistant.  I will never forget the class before finals (if you know you know).  He was so kind, brilliant and funny at the same time.  We did share a few dinners after I graduated and he always spoke of his family and travels.  I have been meaning to reach out when I saw he recently retired.  May his memory be a blessing to all.

Alongside the profound grief and disbelief, there is infinite gratitude for having had the supreme honor of having Larry as a cherished friend.  I am forever thankful for the wisdom of his words, the gentleness and generosity of his spirit, the integrity of his soul, and the beauty of his laughter.  My sincerest most heartfelt prayers go out to his beloved family.  May his memory be a blessing...

Larry was one of the best persons I ever met. Best in research, best in personal matters. My heart is with his family.  There will be a hole in our our lives that has exactly his shape. 
There is no one he loved more than his family, and all my heart goes out to you.

Larry and I were the closest of friends from elementary school through high school. Though infrequent, we managed to see each other sporadically over the subsequent years. Never enough, as it turns out...
I've read the condolence notes here of some of his colleagues and students. They are all spot on. He was brilliant, modest, funny, always kind and generous. What you may not know is that he was always like that, even as a kid. 
Surely one of the best human beings any of us will ever know. What a terrible loss.
Drew

Dear Anita and all of Larry's family:  Larry was a warm and wonderful colleague and friend for many years.  We often would end up talking  for much longer than either of us planned just because it was so much fun to share ideas and opinions.  Larry was a revered giant in his field. Around the halls of BLS, however, he was a mere mortal, a regular guy,   who contributed so generously to the good and welfare of his students, his peers and the entire community.  We have been and will continue to miss his wit and wisdom.

I first met Larry after his presentation at a conference at Hofstra University. That presentation displayed the very essence of who he was -- a combination of knowledge and humor. I will miss him terribly.

I unfortunately never had the chance meeting him in person, but read his work admiringly and we had attended some online events together. He was truly an inspiring figure . My condolences to the family & friends.

Larry Solan was a close friend and an idol in forensic linguistics. We met together with Peter Tiersma many years ago in Brooklyn, and in more recent times repeatedly in Bonn and Freiburg.
Our deepest condolences to Anita and his family.

Es war ein Glück, Larry Solan persönlich gekannt zu haben.

My deepest condolences to family and friends. I first met Larry at a FL conference in Seattle when I was still a Masters' student. I have always admired his work and personality. He will live on through his work and our memory.

A very kind and caring person

Maurice Varney

I have known Prof. Solan only through his books and articles. I have never met him, but FL friends say he is down-to-earth. True enough, he gladly said yes when we invited him to be one of our virtual speakers at the 1st International Conference in Forensic Linguistics hosted by our University in the Philippines in September 2021. I was reluctant to email him because of his stature in law and linguistics, but his email response was very casual, and the tone did not exude any air of arrogance at all. I have never felt so little talking to an FL giant like him, and I wish to thank him sincerely for being so generous with his time. To the family left behind by Prof. Solan, thank you for sharing him with us. Someone special like him will always be remembered. The FL community in the Philippines sends you our deepest sympathy at this difficult time.

I first met Larry in Poland in 2005 at the International Summer School in Forensic Linguistics. He was a giant in FL, I was just starting my PhD, and I was in awe of him. He was kind, funny, and generous with his time discussing my research.  That was the start of a friendship I have valued though the years. We met up at conferences and, when he no longer travelled, zoomed regularly throught the COVID and post COVID years until the last year when his health made that difficult. But he was the sort of person one thought would go on forever so his untimely death comes as a shock. 
An irreplaceable loss for his family, colleagues, and friends, but Larry leave a scholarly legacy that will carry his memory forever. My deepest condolences to his wife and family. Que la tierra le sea leve.

Larry was second a colleague, and first a friend. He didn’t care that I was young when I started working at BLS, that I had no fancy status, and that I was not teaching a “sexy” course. He cared that I was a person, and he treated me with the upmost respect and dignity at all times. He gave me the chance to advance in my career where others said no. Despite his clear brilliance, he never took himself too seriously. We had a lot of laughs, and even once snuck out in the middle of the work day to see a movie (we saw Sicko). Larry was completely devoted to his family - they were everything to him. He was a true gentleman and a gentle man. The world has lost a good one.

Larry

Larry was my good friend, colleague, teacher, and companion from the first time many years ago when we first met at the annual January LSA meeting in Washington DC. During the noon break I saw him in line and asked him if he’d join me for lunch to help me celebrate my birthday. A lifetime friendship was born. 										Since that meeting, Larry has been not only a great colleague but also one of my very close friends. We worked together on various projects, he helped me with legal law issues related to my books and articles, collaborated on the festshrift of our close friend, Peter Tiersma, corresponded regularly, shared our passion for baseball (although not for the same teams) and he stayed at my home a couple times when forensic linguistics meetings were held in here in Missoula. He even went out of his way to meet me for lunch whenever I happened to be in New York. 										I have many reasons to gieve his untimely passing and I already miss him deeply. My condolences go to Anita and the rest of his family. A mighty oak has fallen and can never be replaced. 
Roger Shuy

Dear Anita,
Larry was one of the smartest and most generous scholars in my universe, and I had greater admiration for no one.  He was also a revered and treasured friend to me and so many others. To  you and Renata and David and to your grandchildren, I extend my deep sympathy. We, his colleagues, have lost Larry, but his legacy remains a shining example of an admirably scholarly and intellectual life extraordinarily well lived, and with a splash of humor here and there that was most endearing. Please accept my condolences.   
Ed Finegan

AVIS DE DÉCÈS

Lawrence Solan

7 mai 1952 – 2 mars 2024

Bernheim-Apter-Kreitzman Suburban Funeral Chapel

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