HIGH POINT — The Rev. James Kenneth Solari, 95, the oldest priest in the Diocese of Charlotte, passed away Friday, May 15, 2026, at Pennybyrn in High Point.
He was born in Richmond, Va., on July 31, 1930, the oldest child of James Kenneth Solari and Frances Meagher Solari, and was the brother of Abbot Placid Solari, O.S.B., of Belmont Abbey.
The reception of the body, vigil service and viewing will be 7:30 p.m. Monday, May 25, in the Basilica at Belmont Abbey. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, May 26 at Belmont Abbey with interment following in the abbey cemetery.
His parents were devout Catholics who raised their six children to know and love the faith.
After attending Benedictine High School, a military school in Richmond founded by the Benedictine monks, the young James Solari entered Belmont Abbey College.
It was there during his freshman year that he first felt called to the priesthood. It was the example of daily Mass with the Benedictine monks that attracted his attention.
He entered the Benedictine community as a novice, an intensive period of discernment to monastic life, and made his first profession of vows in 1950.
Because Belmont Abbey College was a junior college at the time, he transferred to St. Benedict’s College in Atchison, Kansas, to complete his undergraduate degree in philosophy. He then returned to Belmont Abbey, professed his final vows as a Benedictine monk and studied in the seminary there for a year.
Then, Benedictine Abbot Vincent Taylor sent him to Rome to earn a licentiate in sacred theology from the Benedictine-run Pontifical Athenaeum of Saint Anselm, also known as the Anselmianum or Sant’Anselmo. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1955 at a Benedictine Abbey in Assisi.
After graduating from Sant’Anselmo, the young priest went to the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome, run by the Jesuits, to learn about Sacred Scripture for a second licentiate, from 1957 to 1959.
In 1959 Father Solari returned to Belmont Abbey, where he became part of the theology faculty and later taught in the seminary that was once there. On weekends, he celebrated Sunday Masses at various parishes in Charlotte and elsewhere and offered advice to students considering religious life.
In 1968, Father Solari went to The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., to earn a doctorate in theology. Two years later, he returned to Belmont Abbey College and served as its academic dean until 1978.
During that time, he also pursued a lifelong love of aviation, took lessons at the Gastonia airport and earned his pilot’s license. He flew frequently over the next 10 years and often to destinations where he could offer Mass. North Myrtle Beach in South Carolina was one such destination – he would fly there on the weekends to offer Mass at a local parish before flying back to Gastonia.
In 1978, his ministry took a new turn and he became a parish priest, serving the new parish of Holy Family in Clemmons, followed by St. Michael Church and School in Gastonia. He saw firsthand the great need for priests in the growing Charlotte diocese, so in 1983 he petitioned Rome for a dispensation from his monastic vows to serve as a diocesan priest.
Father Solari was incardinated into the Diocese of Charlotte in 1983. His first assignment as a diocesan priest was as pastor at St. Eugene Parish in Asheville, and he then moved to St. Leo Parish in Winston-Salem.
After his retirement from active ministry in 2000, he served as interim pastor at St. Pius X Parish in Greensboro, St. Philip Parish in Statesville and St. Michael the Archangel in Gastonia. His final assignment, beginning in 2008, was as chaplain at Pennybyrn in High Point, where he was also a resident. Read more about his ministry.
In 2005, he established the Solari Family Endowment Fund in the Diocesan Foundation to benefit Mira Via and Catherine’s House, both in Belmont.
He is survived by his sisters, Mrs. Helen Preston (Robert) and Katherine Swindell, two brothers, William Solari (Sylvia) and Abbot Placid Solari, O.S.B, and his sister-in-law, Catherine Dart Solari, and numerous nieces and nephews, grandnieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Richard Solari.
McLean Funeral Directors of Belmont is in charge of arrangements.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Solari Family Foundation with the Diocese of Charlotte, 1123 S. Church St., Charlotte, NC 28203, www.charlottediocese.org or to The Frances and Kenneth Solari Scholarship Fund at Belmont Abbey College, 100 Belmont Mt. Holly Road, Belmont, NC 28012, www.belmontabbeycollege.edu.
— Christina Lee Knauss
Formerly served in Murphy, Hendersonville
JACKSONVILLE, Florida — Deacon Anthony “Tony” P. Marini passed away peacefully June 13, 2026 – leaving behind a legacy marked by devotion, kindness and unwavering faith.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at noon Saturday, June 20, 2026, at Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, followed by a reception in the parish hall.
The community will have the opportunity to honor and remember Deacon Marini during the following services at Our Lady Star of the Sea Church: a viewing from 3 to 8 p.m. Friday, June 19, 2026, beginning with the Divine Mercy Chaplet. A Rosary will begin at 6:30 p.m. followed by a vigil service at 7 p.m.
Born on Nov. 13, 1930, in San Benedetto in Perillis, Italy, his life was a testament to loyalty, spirituality and gentle compassion that touched the hearts of all who knew him.
A man of profound intellect and dedication, he pursued academic excellence with determination. He graduated from Fordham College in 1952, earning a Bachelor of Science in mathematics, followed by an MBA in statistics from New York University in 1954. His journey in education laid the foundation for a distinguished career that began with his employment at Western Electric Co. and American Can Co. in Manhattan. Balancing work with a passion for teaching, he served as an adjunct associate professor of statistics at Pace College during the evenings, sharing his knowledge with eager minds. On July 14, 1956, he married Maria Patrizio, a long-time friend from Staten Island, New York who was born in the same town in Italy.
In 1965, he accepted a position with the Xerox Corp. in Rochester, New York, where his leadership and vision flourished. He participated in the Xerox Executive Leave Program in 1979 and championed the establishment of a non-profit corporation focused on empowering minority businessmen through Small Business Administration loans. From 1980 to 1984, he held the influential role of eastern regional manager for Xerox’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP), demonstrating his commitment to supporting others in both professional and personal capacities.
His spiritual journey was equally remarkable and deeply inspiring. Together with his wife Maria, he embraced the Cursillo Movement, a testament to their shared devotion. In 1969, his faith and service were recognized when Rochester Bishop Joseph L. Hogan appointed him as diocesan lay director of Cursillo. His calling culminated in a profound milestone when, in 1978, he was accepted into the Diocese of Rochester’s first class of candidates for the permanent diaconate.
On April 17, 1982, he was ordained a permanent deacon by Rochester Bishop Matthew H. Clark, the start of a life of a sacred duty he fulfilled with loving dedication. In 1984, he and Maria moved to Florida, beginning a new chapter of service including migrant ministry and Hispanic outreach. In 1997, they moved to Ponte Vedra Beach and joined Our Lady Star of the Sea Parish. As part of his parish duties in his later years, after moving to Vicar’s Landing, he assisted at weekly Mass in the chapel and offered opportunities for spiritual growth.
In 1999, he was incardinated into the Diocese of Charlotte and served at St. William Parish in Murphy and Immaculate Conception Parish in Hendersonville. He retired from active ministry in 2004.
Deacon Marini was known not only for his professional accomplishments, but for his creative endeavors such as stained glass, watercolor painting and poetry. A man whose devotion was matched only by his humility and grace, he exemplified what it means to live a life rooted in love and service to others.
Throughout his life, Deacon Marini held two great sources of pride and joy: his faith and his family. He was a devoted husband to his beloved late wife, Maria Marini, and a cherished son of Claudio and Anna Marini.
Deacon Marini will be eternally remembered, not only for his impressive accomplishments, but for the noble spirit that defined his every moment.
He is survived by his loving children, daughter Agnes (Philip) Barber and son Claude (Janie) Marini. His legacy lives on vibrantly through his grandchildren, Lianna (Randy) Barlow, Stephen (Sheena) Barber, Gabrielle Barber, Anthony (Liis) Marini, Dominic (Rebeca) Marini, Christopher Marini and Cecilia Marini; as well as his great-grandchildren, Harmony, Alaina, Cora, Eevee, Rahel and Penelope.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the National Shrine of Our Lady of La Leche at Mission Nombre de Dios, Marywood Retreat and Conference Center or a charity of your choice. Donations to Marywood Retreat and Conference Center can be made payable to Marywood Retreat Center and mailed to 235 Marywood Dr., St Johns, FL 32259, or over the phone by calling 904-436-6592 (ask to speak to Ansley or Brianna_/
Condolences may be shared via the funeral home’s website, www.quinn-shalz.com.
Quinn Shalz Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
— Catholic News Herald