George Soltis Jr. was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1935. Shortly after graduating Bishop Loughlin High School in Brooklyn, he joined the United States Navy on November 4th, 1953. He completed his Sonarman training on March 15, 1954, and was assigned to work as a Sonarman aboard the Destroyer USS Zellars DD 777. He played football for the U.S. Navy football team where exhibition football games were often played with teams from other U.S. Navy ships and other countries. During his time aboard the USS Zellars, he wrote many letters to his fiancée back home telling her about sailing all over the world, where they performed drills and preparations in case they were needed during conflict. He wrote about being on watch in all kinds of weather and ironically, mentioned how much he loved the food. While serving, George received the Good Conduct Medal, the European Occupation Medal and the National Defense Medal.
George transferred to the U.S. Navy Reserves in October of 1957 where he continued to serve until November of 1962. He went on to work for Retail Credit Company (now known as Equifax) for 32 years. In the early 1960’s, he befriended a work colleague who had family in Southampton. As a result, George began renting a cottage at Towd Point in North Sea for his family for a few weeks each summer. He loved it so much that he decided to move his family permanently to Southampton in 1973. He enjoyed anything outdoors including fishing and swimming and became an avid beekeeper, sharing his honey with neighbors and friends. George lived in Southampton until his untimely and sudden death in 1988, at the age of 53.
