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Sol Guttenberg
02/07/1935 — 08/31/2024
From Kennewick, WA | Born in Bronx, NY
Sol Guttenberg
Sol Guttenberg, wonderful husband, Dad, Grandpa, and Grampy, passed away on August 31, 2024, at the age of 89. Sol was born on February 7, 1935, in Bronx, New York, to Morris and Ethel Guttenberg, first generation immigrants from Russia and Hungary. Sol spoke fondly of spending days playing stickball in the neighborhood streets, as well as sneaking into Yankees’ games through openings in the fence. He was a lifelong Yankees fan, and he never quite lost his New York “accent.” Sol was highly intelligent and driven to succeed, and after acceptance, he took the subway across the city daily to attend Stuyvesant High School, a nationally respected math and science high school. Sol earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Chemical Engineering from Brooklyn Collegiate & Polytechnic Institute (now the New York University Tandon School of Engineering). He went on the earn a Master’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Pittsburgh.
While in Pittsburgh, Sol met his wife, Althea, and they married on May 6, 1961. Sol was employed by Westinghouse, and soon after marrying, Sol and Althea relocated to Las Vegas to continue working for Westinghouse at the Jackass Flats nuclear testing site. While in Las Vegas, they welcomed their daughter Michelle in 1963, and then their daughter Cheryl in 1965. In 1971, Sol, Althea and their girls moved to Kennewick, where Sol continued to work for Westinghouse at the Fast Flux Test Facility. Sol was very proud of the work done at the FFTF, and he was involved in the initial design stages of the sodium cooled breeder reactor, as well as the shutting down of the project. He truly enjoyed his work. Sol retired in 2000.
Most important to Sol was his family. Throughout the years, he made sure Michelle and Cheryl knew he loved them and had his support. He was so proud of his girls! He had five grandchildren, Marcus, Miriam, Jared, Gabriel and Jenna. All of the grandkids remember Grandpa helping them with math, telling them stories, showing them YouTube videos on a range of topics, and taking a genuine interest in their lives. All he ever wanted was for them to be happy. Sol also had one great-grandchild, Emmy, and he enjoyed watching her do gymnastics across the family room floor, showing her card tricks, and yes, showing her YouTube videos.
Sol enjoyed dancing with Althea, even competing in disco-style couples dancing for several years, working out at the Tri-City Court Club aerobics classes, and traveling the world, including Australia, New Zealand, France, England, Germany, Greece, Turkey, and other locations.
Sol was a good man, a kind man, and the best head of a family we could have had. He is missed and always will be. Sol is survived by his wife, Althea, his daughters, Michelle (Steve) and Cheryl (Mike), his grandchildren, Miriam, Jared, Gabriel, and Jenna, and his great-granddaughter, Emmy. He was preceded in death by his grandson, Marcus. The family is having a private service. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, a charity which Sol supported for many years.
I had the pleasure of working with Sol all the way from design, construction, startup and operation of FFTF. Sometimes ours staff meetings were long but in the end were very productive. Mu wife, Sue, and I also enjoyed interacting with Sol and Al at social gatherings, FFTF dinners, etc. He will be missed.
Sol was one of a kind. Working for Sol represented one of my best experience working at Hanford.
Dear Althea and family…”
Our thoughts are with you….thoughts of how proud he was of his family, each and everyone of you….thoughts about how he was a great”conversationalist”. I would call Althea and he would say “she’s out shopping”…..then he would start a conversation….thoughts about a lot of things he knew a lot about …”he will be missed but the Sol we knew remains in our hearts
Gwen and Rich Hudson
The world was a better place because of Sol’s workplace contributions both technically and socially. I am so lucky to have worked with Sol. His passion to get things done and done right were great. Proud to have worked with him.
Such a nice photo of a really nice man. Sol was special.
It was always a pleasure talking with Sol. he will truly be missed.
Kathy and I have had the privilege of knowing Sol for over 40 years. He was a caring person, not only for those he worked with. but also, for their families. Sol was a driving force in the construction, startup and operation of FFTF. It was an honor to be part of the engineering effort he inspired. Sol was a fantastic work colleague, a man of integrity and a dear friend.
Sol kept the engineering team and their families together through the years with his monthly breakfasts and happy hour dinners both of which continue to this day. Kathy also appreciated both Sol and Al as the only people in the Tri-Cities who spoke with a proper New York City accent. We will miss Sol and our prayers are with Al and the rest of his family.
Mike and Kathy Grygiel
In first got to Know Sol in about 1981, when I joined the FFTF Engineering staff. My office was in the trailer next to his. Everyone in our trailer would have to stop working periodically to listen to Sol “discuss” some subject that he was passionate about with someone he was equally passionate about (either in a positive or, occasionally, less than positive way). Two trailer walls were not enough to contain his opinion. Later, I worked with and for Sol on a variety of interesting FFTF related projects. He was always willing to listen and help, but there was never any doubt about where he stood, and he was (just about) always right. Sol became much more than a co-worker, mentor and manger to me. He (and Al) became very good friends of my wife and I. We will miss him immensely.
Tom and Joyce Burke
I had the privilege of work with Sol for many years. He was technically competent, dedicated, treated all with respect. He genuinely cared for all of those around him. One of his special characteristics was his enjoyment for having a difference of opinions with others. This contributed greatly to the entertainment of many meetings.
al farabee
Bev and I are sorry to hear about Sol. He did have a full, good life. I was the Electrical Engineering Manager at FFTF when Sol was the Engineering Manager there a few years before my retirement. It was during operation and shut-down of FFTF reactor.
We had many discussions about his experiences with the New York Yankees and baseball in general. We also had some talks about his travels, especially Florence Italy and his interest in the statue of David.
Bev and I appreciated his instituting the Thursday breakfasts and the Happy Hour dinners. We enjoyed going to different restaurants and are still attending and continuing fellowship with other FFTF staff.
My condolences to Sol’s family. I had the pleasure of working with Sol as a young engineer and appreciated his wisdom.
Our condolences to Althea, Michelle, Cheryl and the rest of the family. Sol was a great guy, I enjoyed our times together hanging out in his garage following yard work,sipping a beer and talking baseball and all things nuclear, including our time together working at the Fast Flux Test Facility. Rest in peace Sol, you’re finally pain free and in a better place.
Guestbook for
Sol Guttenberg