RIP Jeffrey Solomon. March 15, 1943- January 26,2024
Jeffrey Solomon was a larger than life Venetian. A gentle giant, standing damn near 6’5″ with his shoes on, Jeffrey had an energy and excitement to match. We at Venice Paparazzi met Jeffrey in 2006 or 2007 at at Danny’s Deli (now Winston House). In 2008 we rolled out the red carpet and took photos at the opening party of his Venice Beach Walking Tours. Jeffrey could be seen daily walking down the boardwalk, giving guided tours to groups, filling them in on all the details about Venice that only a local like Jeffrey would know. Jeffrey was born in Westchester and lived in Venice for over 45 years. Sadly, he passed away in January of this year, after spending two years in a memory care facility.
Jeffrey married his wonderful wife Fran of 44 years in 1979 at what is now The Waterfront Venice on Ocean Front Walk. Their Venice love story is the stuff of legend.
After his passing, Fran worked tirelessly to get a bench on Ocean Front Walk in Jeffrey’s honor. And, she did it! Congrats Fran.
![](https://images.venicepaparazzi.com/2023/10/07092856/Fran-and-Jeffrey.png)
Jeffrey and Fran in 2008
A poem by Jeffrey Solomon to his wife Fran!
WHEN I GO
When I go,
Don’t learn to live without me-
Just learn to live with my love in a different way.
And if you need to see me, close your eyes or look in your shadow when the sun shines.
I am there.
Sit with me in the quiet and you will know that I did not leave.
There is no leaving when a soul is blended with another.
When I go,
Don’t learn to live without me-
Just learn to look for me in the moments.
I will be there.
.
![](https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/74415593_1694366220211310_r.jpeg)
Photo courtesy of Fran Solomon
About Jeffrey Solomon:
Jeffrey was born in Westchester, California in 1943. He attended Westchester High School and Upland College on a full basketball scholarship. In 1963, having been seen by a local scout, he was summoned by a Lakers coach Freddy Schaus to LA Sports Arena, the Lakers home arena, for a private tryout. He was hungry to experience life untethered. He rode the rails across the country, combined wheat and installed targets for US U-2 spy planes. He read a book on a plane “How To Deal Craps” and became a well-known Las Vegas croupier. The story of his alter ego, Chip Sullivan, lives on in his book, “Like It Had Eyes”. He moved back to SoCal in 1976. He met his wife, Fran Solomon, on a blind date on a Monday and they moved into together in the valley on Tuesday. He wanted to move back to Venice. He contacted a local real estate broker from Sail Realty and the condo on Navy Street was the first place he showed them. And that was that. Jeffrey was back home and Venice Beach remained his lifelong playground. He always referred to it as the “People’s Beach” because it belong to and reflected all of Los Angeles, with all of its diversity and inclusion. His love for Venice Beach is well-known in the community. Residents and beachgoers recall the days Jeffrey spent rollerskating on Oceanfront Walk, shooting hoops at the recreation center and playing volleyball on the sand at the base of Navy Street, his home for 50 years. He knew everyone and everyone knew him. With his welcoming smile and great knowledge of Venice and its history, he established Venice Beach Walking Tours in 2008, becoming a great resource of information and a steward of Venice Beach. His tours would travel along the stretches of the Venice Beach bike path, Ocean Front Walk and the Venice Canals. He was about everyone, which is one of the reasons why his legacy is so important to the entire Venice community. But most of all – Jeffrey brought people together throughout his life. He loved connecting people and building relationships that lasted decades. He is deeply missed by all who knew him.
View event coverage by Venice Paparazzi’s Edizen Stowell and AJ Vaatete!
Current West Hollywood Councilmember and 7 time Mayor John Heilman
Councilwoman Traci Park
LA Parks Foundation Executive Director Anthony “Tony” Budrovich
Current West Hollywood Councilmember and 7 time Mayor John Heilman
Lindsey Horvath, Chair of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors
Adan Pulido, Venice Beach Recreation and Parks
![](https://images.venicepaparazzi.com/2024/08/13155558/Jeffrey-66.jpg)
Celebration of Life Reception hosted by the Waterfront, the same location where Fran and Jeffrey were married in 1979.
Here are a few photos that we found in the Venice Paparazzi archives of Jeffrey Solomon!
Jeffrey partying it up with the Venice Paparazzi crew in 2007.
![](https://images.venicepaparazzi.com/2023/10/07092845/Larger-than-life.png)
Jeffrey at the Venice Penguin Swim
![](https://images.venicepaparazzi.com/2023/10/07092925/2008-Venice-Beach-Walking-Tours.jpg)
2009 Venice Beach Walking Tours Launch party
![](https://images.venicepaparazzi.com/2023/10/07100407/1.-VCC-Installation.jpg)
Jeffrey was on the board of Venice Chamber of Commerce… like forever. This photo from the 2016-2017 Venice Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors Installation.
RIP Jeffrey! Thank you for being you, and for sharing your light with everyone in Venice!
View video of the Celebration of Life by Venice Paparazzi. Click on the play button on the feature photo above.
Looking for your June 22 “Celebration of Life” event photo by Venice Paparazzi?