Richard Leon Solar of Great Barrington passed away on March 8, 2026, at the age of 86. While he split his time between New York City, Vero Beach, Fla., and the Berkshires, his real love was always the hills of western Massachusetts. He was a man of high integrity who was uniquely purposeful yet persistently unserious.
Born in Brookline, Mass., in 1939, Dick attended Belmont Hill School, where he was known for a mischievous “bad boy” streak. He eventually focused that energy at Harvard College for his undergraduate studies and later earned his MBA from Columbia Business School, launching a career defined by both professional success and a steady moral compass.
Dick spent the early part of his career rising through the ranks at Bankers Trust. He later served as the CFO of Gerber Childrenswear, where he helped lead the company’s IPO. Following that, as a board director for Marvel, he played a key role in the development of the movie studio and its eventual sale to The Walt Disney Company. Beyond his own achievements, Dick had a genuine interest in other people’s careers and took great pride in helping others succeed.
A dedicated supporter of the arts, Dick served on the boards of the Barrington Stage Company and the Riverside Theatre in Vero Beach. He was extremely charitable and generous with friends and their causes and remained deeply committed to the communities he called home.
Dick was happiest at his favorite haunts, JG Melon in the city and the Old Mill in the Berkshires, in the company of his great group of friends. He was an early adopter of Jersey Mike’s subs and loved roadside dives, firmly believing that a hot dog could, and should, count as a snack. He admired and collected antiques and vintage cars that rarely, if ever, fully functioned, a fact he was always the first to joke about. A social person, he loved going out to dinner, always ordered fries for the table, and was insistent on a dessert to “share.” He was a voracious reader and a fan of a good joke, coffee ice cream, and mud season, simply because it meant spring was finally emerging from winter in the Berkshires.
Music was a constant in Dick’s life. He was a devoted fan of Motown, The Eagles, and The Rolling Stones, though he possessed an equally enthusiastic appreciation for Shaggy’s seminal 2000 track “It Wasn’t Me.” Above all, Dick believed in the joy of the moment. He once remarked that the best sound in the world is a cocktail shaker because it meant someone was about to have a good time.
Dick’s greatest devotion was to his wife Stephanie Bennett Solar. After meeting in New York City, Stephanie famously took the bus just to time a “chance” encounter with him on his walk home, a move that led to a happy marriage of 57 years.
Dick is survived by his wife Stephanie Bennett Solar; his daughter and son-in-law, Lisa and George Rand of Weston, Mass.; his grandson Jack Rand of Weston; and his son and daughter-in-law, Andrew and Eleanor Solar of New York City. He was a one-of-a-kind presence who will be deeply missed.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Dick’s name to the People’s Pantry of Great Barrington in care of Finnerty & Stevens Funeral Home, 426 Main St., Great Barrington, MA 01230.
