Sol Zaichick

Solomon “Sol” Zaichick died peacefully at age 99 on August 28, 2024, (Av 25, 5784 on Jewish calendar), at Oakwood Village - Hebron Oaks, from complications of prostate cancer and heart failure, surrounded by his chosen family of close friends.

Sol was born at Madison General Hospital on July 10,1925, the second son of David and Sarah Zaichick. His parents were poor Jewish immigrants from Belarus, who joined relatives in Wisconsin, settling in Madison in 1925. Hard working and frugal, they lived in a series of apartments in the Greenbush neighborhood (“the Bush”), until Sol purchased a home for the family in the neighborhood. Sol and his brother grew up in that vibrant immigrant community and he retained childhood friends from “the Bush” throughout his life. For decades, he was part of regular “bull sessions” with the men’s group that still gathers twice weekly at George’s Park St Shoe Shop.

Sol attended Longfellow Elementary and Madison Central High School and was on the football team. During his senior year, having met requirements for graduation, he was drafted into the U.S. Army in December 1943, one of 35 fellow students who began their military service in high school. While on a 15-day furlough, he graduated with his class in June 1944. He was deployed to France in the transportation division, moving supplies to the front and the wounded back to base until April 1946. 

After the end of World War II and discharge from the army, Sol returned to Madison, working in construction. He helped build many prominent structures in the city and UW, including Vilas Hall, Humanities and The Shell. He enjoyed physical work and the camaraderie and teamwork of the construction business. He was a proud union member, elected President of the Construction and General Laborers Union Local 464 twice, receiving his 75-year pin from LIUNA in 2021. Sol never got a driver’s license, preferring to walk to work or take the bus with his tools on his shoulder. The strength and resilience that he developed served him his whole life as he was strong, fast and active into his late 90s.

In his retirement, Sol turned his attention to developing his mind through self education and community service. A voracious reader of world news and nonfiction, he spent most mornings reading in the UW Memorial Library or Madison’s Central Library.

Sol’s second home was Beth Israel Center, also in “the Bush”. He was a man of deep faith, a steady, pivotal member of the congregation, participating in the daily prayers - “Minyan” - for decades, starting & ending his days with communal prayer. He became the “shammes”, gently asking people to come to services so there would be sufficient numbers to say the proper prayers for those who needed them. In that role, he kept the daily Minyan going for years. He was a beloved member of the Beth Israel community for almost 60 years. His absence leaves a hole whose emptiness cannot be filled. For many years, he also prayed - “davened” - at Chabad of Madison and helped make minyan there, as well.

Sol embodied the values of kindness, charity, and acceptance so deeply that those characteristics defined him as a person. Although he had strong opinions, based in knowledge, about many things and issues, he didn’t argue with anyone. He never spoke an unkind word (except possibly regarding a few politicians). 

He was a man of few words, quiet, never wanting the spotlight, never asking for attention, never complaining, always forgiving. He was an inspiration to us all about how to live a good life, caring for others, spreading only peace and kindness and asking for nothing in return.

Humble and modest, he loved life, people and his communities. Even in his final months, when illness made it hard for him to do the things he loved regularly, he wanted to spend time with his friends in the ongoing “bull session” that was his communal life - swapping stories, news and ideas with his friends. He showed us how to be a mensch by his actions and unfailing gentleness and acceptance.

He was preceded in death by his father David in 1966, mother Sarah in 1977, older brother Norman in 1993, and an older sister who died in infancy in Russia. He leaves behind a plethora of friends from his neighborhood, the Greenbush community, and from his Beth Israel Center family. We were blessed to have him in our lives for so long. He will never be forgotten.

His close chosen family is forever grateful for the love and support shown to Sol and to us by the staff at Oakwood Village - Hebron Oaks, Oakwood Hospice, UW Health Home Based Primary Care, many wonderful nurses and aides at Meriter Hospital and a group of very special doctors at Meriter. 

Funeral services, officiated by Rabbi Betsy Forester, were held at Beth Israel Center, 1406 Mound St, on Friday, August 30, 2024 at 2 PM followed by burial in the family plot in Forest Hill Cemetery.

Donations in memory of Sol Zaichick will be gratefully received at: Beth Israel Center, 1406 Mound St, Madison, WI 53711 or Chabad of Madison, 1722 Regent St, Madison, WI 53726. His memory is forever a blessing.

To watch the live stream of Sol funeral, you can follow this link. https://beth-israel-center.livecontrol.tv/9e0e1fcb

Shiva will be observed for Sol with services according to this schedule:

Saturday Evening, 8:30pm on Zoom only

Sunday morning, 8:15am, in person at Beth Israel Center and on Zoom (hHybrid”)

Sunday evening:  Community gathering for services and sharing of memories, beginning at 5:30. Services will also be accessible on our minyan Zoom. Light refreshments will be served. This gathering will take place in the main sanctuary and social hall at the synagogue.

All other services during the week of Shiva will be hybrid, Monday through Thursday 7:15am and 5:30pm. 

After each minyan, there will be time to share memories and grieve together at Beth Israel Center (and on the minyan Zoom).