Philanthropist and business leader Michael Solcz Sr. passes away

Local philanthropist passes away Local philanthropist, Michael Solcz Sr. has passed away. The community is remembering him.

The Windsor-Essex community is mourning the loss of a local business leader and philanthropist.

Michael Solcz Sr. passed away Saturday at the age of 93.

Solcz was born in 1931 in Hunta, Ont., to an immigrant family from Czechoslovakia. The family moved to Windsor in 1942, and he attended W.D. Lowe Technical School to become a tool and die maker.

In 1959, he founded Valiant Corporation, which is now a global corporation.

Solcz also supported efforts to improve the welfare of the Windsor-Essex community through the Solcz Family Foundation with a focus on supporting projects and programs that provide opportunities for children, youth, and families.

Former Windsor Regional Hospital CEO David Musyj tells AM800 News Solcz cared about everyone, especially children.

"Children that had no control over what life handed them and how he tried to overcome that with supporting various children’s activities and initiatives in order to help those children that got a bad hand in life," Musyj says.

Solcz leaves behind his wife of 63 years, Doreen; four sons; and many nieces, nephews, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

Musyj says what Solcz has done will live on for generations because his family has adopted his values of helping the community.

"When you talk to all of his children, his grandchildren, they all sound like him; that's amazing," he says. "That was passed down through generations to the other people in his family to live his legacy, to move it forward."

Visitation will be Thursday, 2 p.m.-5 p.m. and 7 p.m.-9 p.m. at Windsor Chapel (Banwell Chapel) 11677 Tecumseh Rd. E.and Friday from 10-11:30 a.m. at Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish with the funeral mass to follow at 11:30 a.m.

Solcz will be laid to rest at the Heavenly Rest Cemetery Mausoleum—Solcz Family Room.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations in memory of Mike be made to the Micheal G. Solcz Community Benefit Fund, managed by the Windsor Essex Community Foundation.

~With files from AM800 News journalist Rusty Thompson.