Douglas George Solinsky

Douglas George Solinsky, age 73, of Lake Road, passed peacefully at his home Monday, October 2, 2023, surrounded by his family following a prolonged battle with Lewy Body Dementia.

Doug was born on October 11, 1949, in Meriden, CT, son to the late Joseph John and Irene (Joyal) Solinsky.  He was raised and educated in Wallingford, CT graduating in the Class of 1968 from Lyman High School.  

If the dash between birth and death represents the life one lived, then Doug’s dash was full of love, adventure, and he had a flare for pranks. 

Known as “George” or “Mit” by his children, who certainly helped him in the aging and gray hair growing process, learned to appreciate his quiet demeanor and sense of humor. 

Saint Isidore, the patron Saint of Farmers, was known for his love of the poor, and had a great concern for the proper treatment of animals. If you asked Doug if he loved farming, he would say without hesitation, “Nope. Not always.” When asked why he chose such a tiring, thankless job he would explain that he swore growing up that he was always going to be around for his kids whenever they needed him. If he was off in an office somewhere or had to travel he would not be able to do that–so the challenges of farming and a life often scrimping for money was worth getting to be there for his kids’ ball games, graduations, and weddings. Additionally, riding through the fields on tractors in the summer gave him time to spend with his own thoughts--which he often preferred to those of others. Doug loved tractors, could tinker on them for days, and knew the make, model, and year of every antique tractor he ever laid eyes on.But he always preferred a John Deer. So, it could be said that he also loved farming. He passed this passion for machinery, animals, and hard work onto his son Joe and his grandson Dylan. 

Doug was happiest when he was in the sugar woods or standing over the boiling sap.The process of trudging through the woods to tap trees and set up lines, was also arduous and tiring. The process of making something gold and smooth, sweet and delicious from a tree source nearly equivalent to water, is one of the great gifts of life, and Doug was a master at it. Sugaring this season will not be the same for Kurt, or Budd, or Joe, or Dylan–or any of the countless other sugaring enthusiasts who stopped by to see the process. There is no doubt though, that come every March and April, Doug will be there adding wood to the fire and drawing off that first draw of the golden Maple syrup.

When Doug was not farming or sugaring, he loved to fish. It didn’t matter if he ever got a bite. Spending time with friends and family on the lake or pond was always a great day–even if they came home empty handed. 

He loved playing cards with his family–and was most often partnered with his 95 year old mother-in-law. Even in his final weeks–in his decline, and his mother in law’s aged state-they were able to “beat the pants off” Linda and Janice every time. 

Doug did not like to get on an airplane–and very rarely a boat. But he loved the adventure of traveling. He loved to take driving trips around the country with Janice, Linda, and her late husband C.W. Britt. Some of those trips included Florida, South Dakota and Branson, Missouri. In 2016, Doug and Kurt took a trip to Alaska (and he had to get on a plane!) The picture collage in the living room says, “Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take but the number of moments that take our breath away.” This father and son adventure was the trip of a lifetime! One of Doug’s last trips was to Florida to spend Thanksgiving with his daughters Jen and Amy. They shared good food, lots of laughs, and plenty of sunshine.  

Doug and Janice met in 1988. They farmed together, raised a blended family together, traveled together, and grew older together. Sometimes when things got tough on the farm, Janice would get worried because she did not know how they were going to make ends meet. Doug would just respond, “Oh Hon, what’s the sense in worrying? Has worrying ever made anything better?” He was right. He was always full of wisdom. 

Church was a place of solitude and reflection for him. In fact, Doug was such a believer in getting to church on time, that one time he got a speeding ticket. When he explained to the officer that he was late for church, the officer replied, “I think Jesus would want you to get there safely.” Now he never has to worry about being late.

Doug is survived by his beloved wife of 34 years, Janice E. (née Baird) Solinsky of Newark,  8 Children: Jennifer J. Nolan (Kevin) of Wesley Chapel, FL, Jeffrey “Joe” Solinsky (Jean) of Sutton, VT, Amy May Tucker of Montpelier, VT, Kurt D. Solinsky (Regan) of Sutton, Doug Germain (Beth) of Gloucester, MA, Debbie Austin (Steve) of Essex, VT, Jill Russell-Blake (Christine) of Blue Hill, ME, Eric Blake of Brooklin, ME, 5; mother-in-law Pearl G. Baird (Everett); sister-in-law Linda Britt (C.W.) siblings: Donald Solinsky (Fran) of Rapid City, SD, Paige Reinbeck of FL, Thomas Solinsky (Linda) of Taylor, SC, Dennis Solinsky (Sandra) of Bath, NH, Jim Solinsky (Edith) of N. Haverhill, NH, 22 grandchildren and several great-grandchildren and Several cousins, nieces and nephews. 

The family would like to give a very special thanks to Linda Britt, Budd Smith and other close friends and family members who were by Doug’s side to the very end.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 12PM on Wednesday, October 11, 2023, at the Conversion of St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Barton, VT with Fr. Curtis Miller as celebrant.  Burial will follow at the Sutton Village Cemetery.

Friends may call on the Family from 6-8PM, Tuesday October 10^th at the Guibord-Pearsons Funeral Home, 15 Main Street in Lyndonville.

Memorial Donations may be made to the Lewy Body Dementia Association, Inc., 912 Killian Hill Road S.W., Lilburn, GA 30047, www.lbda.org/donate/

Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at guibordfh.com