William W Cleary

The Magic of Coach Ray Solari 

Coach Solari's magic was his ability to turn average, small town teenage boys who loved to throw the football around, into State champions.  In fact, Coach Solari earned five SPHS league championships.  
 

It was never about the individual or the star players; it was always about working together as a team.  Coach Solari had a memorable style that combined discipline with humor to instill responsibility amongst all the players.  Many lessons learned continued beyond the field.  In turn, respect for Coach Solari was unchallenged.

Coach Solari's legacy lives through all of us who had the privilege of knowing him.

Paul Cole and I first met in junior high.  We played all the sports junior high had to offer.  We became good friends through the sport teams.  In ninth grade, Paul told me of a bully that would not leave him alone.  Paul decided to fight the bully and asked me to be his second.  The fight was after school behind the liquor store.  It lasted about five minutes with Paul pinning the bully and making him promise not to bother Paul again. Paul told me the bully never bothered him again.

One day in high school, Paul informed me that he was at my aunt's home the night before. My aunt was a high school English teacher at another school.  I asked Paul what they were doing and he told me they were in a heated discussion about the war in Vietnam.  Paul stayed friends with my aunt for years.

A few years ago Paul showed up at my house.  It was great seeing him.  Before long we were on South Pasadena stories.  Paul could remember the smallest details growing up.  We both agreed that South Pas was a great place to grow up.

When I think of Paul, I think of his infectious smile and his laid back way about him.  Paul left us to early.  As we get older, the South Pas stories become more important and Paul was in many of them!