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August 7, 2009
Frank W. Soltis, of Harford County, Md., passed away on Friday, August 7, 2009.
Frank enjoyed visits to Pennsylvania. His grandparents were Charles and Anna Stiliha, of Port Griffith.
Frank had his own realty business and ran for senator in Maryland. He had his law degree from the University of Maryland.
He is survived by children Charmaine, Sonny and Bill Soltis; also a brother, Tom.
The Aegis Newspaper of Hartford wrote the following editorial about Mr. Soltis: The recent passing of Frank W. Soltis will leave many holes in Harford County institutions, including, but certainly not limited to, the Open Forum portion of this page. Regular readers of The Aegis over the past several decades who would otherwise never have heard of Mr. Soltis will certainly recognize his name as the one over which many dozens of critical and biting letters to the editor were published.
Among his favorite targets were those in government who aren’t frugal with taxpayer money and those who would seek to curtail personal freedoms. Decades before it became the battle cry of the TEA Party crowd, Mr. Soltis was a vocal critic of the real estate assessment system that has long allowed local governments to collect more money each year essentially by taking no action. Police and government intrusions into the lives of citizens also irritated him to no end. And, from time to time, he was rather critical of this newspaper.
He also was a pioneer in the real estate business, much to the chagrin of mainstream members of the profession. His belief was that the standard commissions charged by brokers and agents should be a good deal more negotiable than has been the tradition.
Though his letters often revealed the heavy-grit sandpaper side of his personality, he also had a velvet side. His wry wit and booming laugh made him a wonderful person to have a conversation with, as many of the regulars who sat at the Wawa across from the county office building in Bel Air will no doubt attest.
There was a lot more to him than complaining. He marched each year in the Bel Air Fourth of July Parade, not as a protester but donning his finest Elvis Presley garb. He collected muscle cars and enjoyed outdoor activities, especially on the water. The passing of Frank Soltis leaves Harford County a somewhat less colorful place.
Memorial services were by The Lasaahn Funeral Home on Aug.15, 2009.