Paul Solomon was a longstanding pillar of the Belmont community. A former Select Board member, Town Meeting member, and beloved local pediatrician, Solomon touched the lives of hundreds in Belmont over the years.
Solomon died April 15 at age 97, one month shy of his 98th birthday.
After graduating from Boston Latin School, Harvard College, and Boston University School of Medicine, Solomon served in the United States Air Force as a flight surgeon. Solomon and his family moved to Belmont in 1962.
From 1960 through 1970, Solomon ran an independent pediatric practice in Belmont, becoming a well-known physician to generations of families. He later joined Harvard Community Health Plan, serving as a pediatrician and in leadership roles.
In Belmont, residents are remembering Solomon’s kindness, willingness to listen, and generosity in his work for the town and beyond.
Legacy in Local Government
Solomon served as a Town Meeting member representing Precinct 1 for more than three decades. There, he met Anne Marie Mahoney, who would eventually serve alongside him on the Select Board.
“I enjoyed working with Paul. He was always a gentleman,” Mahoney said. “…He had a talent for bringing people together.”
Solomon ran against longtime Select Board member Bill Monahan in 2002, walking away victorious. He served until 2008. At the time, Solomon saw a path forward for Belmont, one that embraced change and modernity.
As both a Town Meeting member and Select Board member, Solomon was known for his thoughtful approach to complex issues. He listened to all sides and always seemed to know the right thing to say.
“Whenever Paul stood up to speak about an issue, people paid attention,” recalled former Town Moderator Mike Widmer.
John Bowe worked on Solomon’s campaign, a local, grassroots effort that brought people across Belmont together.
“It just felt like you were part of a team that really cared about each other and cared about the town,” Bowe said.
As part of his work in Belmont, Solomon led the charge on the Vision 21 process, eventually serving on the committee that was tasked with implementing it. The “Working Vision for Belmont’s Future,” or Vision 21, was adopted by Town Meeting in 2001, setting goals for the town focused on quality of life, community, and investment.
As part of Town Meeting, the Select Board, and the Vision 21 Implementation Committee, Solomon spearheaded progress in Belmont. While he advocated for change, residents said he always respected “the old ways.”
“Some people with a different personality might have alienated people stuck in the old ways, but he felt like he brought us all forward in a gentle, respectful way,” Bowe said.
Solomon’s dedication to his community of over six decades meant listening and always having a sense of humor, even when things didn’t go as planned.
“[He had a] willingness to listen to everybody in town, whether they were a supporter of his or not,” Widmer said. “And he understood he represented the entire town, and he respected people with a different point of view.”
