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Dr. Thomas  Sollas
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Obituary for Dr. Thomas V. Sollas Jr.

Dr. Thomas  V.   Sollas  Jr.
Thomas V. Sollas Jr., VMD of Point Pleasant, NJ passed away on August 20, 2018 surrounded by his loving family. Dr. Sollas died from complications of Lymphoma. Dr. Sollas was born in Ridgefield Park, NJ the son of Nan Broderick Sollas and Thomas V. Sollas the first of 3 children. He was raised in Glen Rock and Ridgewood, NJ. He had been a resident of Bay Head since 1956, before moving to Point Pleasant in 2006. He also maintained a residence in Nantucket, Mass for many years, and spent 4 months a year in France with his wife Ann.

Dr. Sollas's beloved wife Ann passed into the arms of the Lord February 2016 after 57 wonderful years of marriage. He is survived by his two children, Thomas III and his wife Melanie and Elizabeth Collins as well as 10 wonderful grandchildren, Hailey, Alaina, Kylie, Colin Thomas, Abigail, Cailin, Kolbe Vincent and Thomas John Sollas and Sage and Quinn Collins. He is also survived by his sister Elizabeth Siblia of Lakewood, as well as many nieces and nephews. He was a communicant at the Church of the Sacred Heart, Bay Head for many years. Dr. Sollas enjoyed traveling to Europe with his wife Ann, especially in France where he spent 4 months a year primarily in Paris, Burgundy and Bordeaux as well as Ireland and Italy. He enjoyed vegetable gardening, fine wines and was an accomplished cook. He was a graduate of The French Culinary Institute in New York City with certificates in both culinary arts as well as bread making. He took many culinary courses in the USA as well as in France. He was particularly proud of his ascent of Mt Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Africa in 1989 as part of an Outward Bound expedition, and was a long time member of the Bay Head Yacht Club and the Union League Club, New York City.

Dr. Sollas received the University of Pennsylvania, Veterinary Medical Alumni Award of Merit in 2006. He was installed as a Commandeurd' Honneur de Medoc' des Graves, de Sauternes, au Barsac at Chateau Beychevelle, Bordeaux France in 2004. He established the Dean Alan M. Kelly endowed Opportunity Scholarship at the University Of Pennsylvania School Of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Sollas proudly served in the United States Marine Corps with honor and distinction post World War II and again during the Korean War, discharged a Staff Sargent. He attended St. Peters Prep, St. Bonaventure University and the University of Pennsylvania, School of Veterinary Medicine, graduating in 1956. He founded the Sea Girt Animal Hospital, Wall Township in 1958 and operated it until his retirement in 1988. He also founded Purr and Pooch Boarding Kennels in Wall Township and Shrewsbury in 1969 and operated them until 1986. Dr. Sollas was also a land developer who planned, built and operated a significant number of commercial and residential projects over a course of 45 years. Among them were Ocean Medical Park in Brick Township and Assisted Living facilities in New Jersey, Ohio and Massachusetts. Dr. Sollas was active in professional and civic groups, including American Veterinary Medical Association, New Jersey Veterinary Medical Association, Member and past President Metropolitan VMA, Board member and Past President of the Bay Head Improvement Association, Member and past Board Chairman of the Zoning Board of Adjustment Boro of Bay Head, Presidents Council Monmouth College, Board of Directors Atlantic State Bank, Commissioner Veterinary Medical Education Department of Higher Education State of NJ, Brick Township Hospital Board, General Alumni Board University of Pennsylvania, Board Member National Association of Home Builders, Advisory Board Outward Bound USA, Leadership Counsel Assisted Living Facilites Association of America Governing Body. Cofounder and Past President of the Shelter Inc. known today as Jersey Shore Animal Center. Tom particularly enjoyed his 4 months in France with Ann the last 12 years prior to his illness. In addition to visiting many friends in Bordeaux and Burgundy he was a "Flaneur", a stroller in Paris. Walking all over many parts of the "City of Light" stopping for luncheon here and there with friends.

In accordance to his wishes a private cremation took place. O'Brien Funeral Home in charge of funeral arrangements. A memorial Mass will be celebrated at Sacred Heart Church in Bay Head on Saturday, September 15, 2018 at 10:30 AM. His ashes will be spread on the Barnegat Bay and the Seine River in Paris. Donations in his name may be made to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1233 York Avenue, New York, NY 10665, to support Dr. Matthew Matasar's Lymphoma research or Ocean Medical Center Foundation, % of Matthew D. Lang, 425 Jack Martin Blvd., Brick, NJ 08724. For more information or to send condolences please visit www.obrienfuneralhome.com
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