Flags in Blind River are flying at half-mast following the passing of Alex Solomon, a lifelong resident of the town known for his extensive community involvement, who passed away on July 27 after a battle with cancer.
Solomon was born and raised in Blind River and was very proud of his Lebanese heritage. He was deeply dedicated to serving the town and the people of Blind River. He was a town councillor for 17 years, volunteered on several committees and boards including the North Shore Health Network (NSHN) Board, and the Blind River Police Services Board.
He and his wife Debra operated the Palace Theatre II, carrying on a family tradition of owning and operating a movie theatre in Blind River since 1928.
In a 2019 interview with ElliotLakeToday, Solomon recalled the history of movie going in the community when the original Palace Theatre was built by his grandfather.
“My grandfather ran it until he passed in 1955 and my father Norman ran it until he passed in 1973, and then I took over in 1977 and I ran it until the mid-90s. I was both teaching and running the theatre,” he said in the interview, about his involvement with the theatre and his 25 years working as a teacher.
“I carried film up and down the stairs for 20 years. I swear my arms are an inch longer than what they should be,” he joked during the interview. “I spent a lot of days in that theatre. It was my second home.”
The theatre operates in the auditorium at the École Secondaire Jeunesse Nord.
“People have blood running through their veins—I have film,” he joked during the interview.
He is characterized in his obituary as a “Soul mate, best friend and beloved husband of Deb, proud father of Jonathan and Nathan and stepfather of Christopher and Adam.”
A funeral service will be held on Saturday, Aug. 14 at the Sellers Park Pavilion, Lakeside Avenue across from Menard Funeral Home in Blind River beginning at 11 a.m. Pandemic protocols will be in place.