BANGOR – Alejandro Humberto Solorzano died peacefully Dec. 4, 2003, at the Bangor Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, after living 92 remarkable years that spanned two continents. A respected equestrian, fencer, teacher, husband, and father, Solorzano lived a life of principle and dignity that was admired by the many individuals he taught and inspired. Mr. Solorzano was born in Loja, Ecuador, on Nov. 3, 1911, the son of Col. Agustin Solorzano and Leonor Vivar. As a youth and young adult, Solorzano was an outstanding athlete, excelling in boxing, wrestling, bull fighting, track, fencing, soccer, volleyball and horseback riding. He earned a B.S. degree in education from the University of Quito and a B.A. from L’Escuale de Aplicacion de Caballeria e Infanteria in 1934. He taught history and geography and was a member of the Ecuadorean national teams in fencing, soccer, and riding. In 1939, Solorzano was a member of the Ecuadorean Equestrian Team that won a gold medal in open jumping during the Pan American Olympics. Solorzano began a career in the Ecuadorean cavalry and was promoted to Teniete de Caballeria in 1942. From 1943-1946, Solorzano spent 2 1/2 years commanding troops in the Ecuadorean jungle during a border dispute with neighboring Peru. He also trained officers from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in the tactics of jungle fighting. Upon his return to Quito in 1946, Solorzano received a diploma in the field of military intelligence and a year later was promoted to captain of the national cavalry. It was this position of military captain that years later would give Solorzano the nickname Captain Alex, which his horseback-riding pupils called him. In 1947, Solorzano became the youngest person in Ecuadorean history to be named comandante general de la Guardia Civil del Ecuador, head of the national police force. In the 1960s, he would go on to be elected to the country’s Military Police Academy Hall of Fame. However, in 1947, the captain’s life underwent a dramatic change. Following a military coup and counterrevolution in August and September of that year, Solorzano, after months in hiding, was forced to flee Ecuador and emigrated to the United States in April of 1948. Though the captain was fluent in four languages, Solorzano, then 36, spoke no English. After traveling from New York to Bangor, Maine, where he knew an Ecuadorean couple stationed at Dow Air Force Base, Solorzano stayed at the YMCA and studied English at evening school. It was while Solorzano was teaching fencing at the Bangor YMCA that he met the Y swimming instructor, Betty Day. They were married Sept. 29, 1950. Solorzano is survived in the United States by his wife of 53 years, Betty of Bangor; two daughters, Lucia Solorzano Work and husband, Clem, of Missoula, Mont., and Dr. Carmen Solorzano of Boston, Mass.; three grandchildren, Alyssa and Brendan Work of Missoula, Mont., and Cecily Work and her husband, Mike, and foster son, Bryan Burford of Los Angeles, Calif.; a sister-in-law, Patricia Day Rowland of Bangor; a brother-in-law, Robert J. Day of Exeter; four nieces and a nephew. Solorzano also leaves in Quite, Ecuador, three sisters, Lucia, Mercedes, and Carmen; and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents; two sisters; and a brother. Solorzano spent the last year of his life at the Bangor Nursing and Rehabilitation Center where his charming manners and smile endeared him to members of the staff and other residents. His family wishes to thank all the caregivers there for making the final year of his life a time of peace, love, and comfort. Friends may call from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2003, at Brookings-Smith, 133 Center St., Bangor, where funeral services will be held 4 p.m. Wednesday with the Rev. Adam Soderberg, pastor, East Orrington Congregational Church, officiating. Relatives and friends are invited to share conversation and refreshments at the Brookings-Smith Family Center, 163 Center St., Bangor, following the service on Wednesday. Interment will be private for the family. Memorial donations in Alejandro’s memory may be sent to the Bangor Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, 103 Texas Ave., Bangor, ME 04401.
ALEJANDRO H. SOLORZANO
