Ann Elizabeth Hickey Sollas of Point Pleasant, N.J., passed away peacefully in her home with her husband by her side on Feb. 21, 2016 after a short struggle with cancer. She was 85 years old.
Ann Solas’ memorial Mass was to be private for close family members.
Ann was born in Plattsburgh, N.Y., on Feb.6, 1931 was raised by her parents, Roger and Elizabeth Ann Hickey in Plattsburgh. As a young girl she attended St. John’s Academy.
In 1952 Ann graduated from State University Teachers College at Plattsburgh. She graduated with high honors and was the class valedictorian at commencement.
Ann graduated with a home economics degree and following graduation she had a radio program at a local station in Plattsburgh. Following that she was the Essex County home economics agent.
Subsequently Ann received a master’s degree in teaching and taught in Rye, N.Y., and the Darien school system as well as in Wall Township and Point Pleasant, N.J., following her marriage to Dr. Thomas V. Sollas Jr.
In November of 1953 Ann was picked by Compact Magazine as one of the nation’s six “prettiest teachers.” The magazine made its selection from entries in a contest sponsored by the CBS radios “Our Miss Brooks.”
Ann is survived by her loving and devoted husband Thomas V. Sollas Jr. with whom she enjoyed a happy marriage of 57 years, and their two children, Elizabeth Collins and Thomas V. Sollas III and his wife Melanie. She loved her eight grandchildren, Sage and Quinn Collins, Hailey, Alaina, Kylie, Collin Thomas, Cailin and Abigail Sollas.
In addition, Ann is survived by her brother John Hickey and sister-in-law Mary of Castle Rock, Colo., sister- in- law Elizabeth Sibilia of Lakewood, N.J., sister-in-law Mrs. Roger Hickey of Jacksonville, Fla., cousin Fred Ryan and his wife Bette of Lake Wales, Fla., as well as many nieces and nephews.
Over the years they had homes in Bay Head, as well as Nantucket, that she loved. Ann enjoyed gardening, her many canine friends and was an avid reader of fiction and mysteries.
She was a member of the Bay Head Yacht Club and was on the board of the Old Monmouth Dog Training Club, a longtime member of the Seaweeder’s Garden Club of Bay Head and Mantoloking and a volunteer at the VNA Thrift Shop in Manasquan, N.J. for many years and the Point Pleasant Hospital.
Ann enjoyed traveling particularly in Ireland, Italy and Paris, France, where she spent four months a year for many years, as well as the Island of Barbados and sailing in the Caribbean West Indies.
Ann maintained an antique shop, “Bagatelle” in Bay Head for many years and enjoyed going to auctions with her daughter, Liz. She was a stylish, lovely and elegant woman with great taste and she had, as the French would say, a je ne sai quoi about her.
At Ann’s request she has been cremated and her memorial Mass will be private for close family members.
In lieu of flowers please make donations to Meridian Hospice, 1345 Campus Parkway Suite 382, Neptune, NJ 07753. Condolences may be sent to the family via www.obrienfuneralhome.com.