Herbert Sorrell Soltman
January 22, 2025
Visitation Information
January 26 2025 - 1:00 pm
Ralph Schugar Chapel, Inc., 5509 Centre Avenue, (Shadyside) Pittsburgh 15232
Funeral Information
January 26 2025 - 2:00 pm
Ralph Schugar Chapel, Inc., 5509 Centre Avenue, (Shadyside) Pittsburgh 15232
HERBERT SORRELL SOLTMAN: Passed away on January 22, 2025 at the age of 89. Herb spent his entire life in his beloved hometown of Pittsburgh, PA. Born to Harold and Phyllis (Stewart) Soltman, Herb was raised in Squirrel Hill with two younger brothers, Theodore (Teddy) and Nelson. He attended Linden Elementary School and Taylor Allderdice High School, graduating in 1952. He received his Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Pittsburgh in 1956. He was a proud member of the Phi Epsilon Pi fraternity, and his greatest passion was playing trombone in the Pitt Marching Band. Later in life, he participated in annual gameday performances with the Pitt Alumni Marching Band.
Following graduation, Herb enlisted in the army and spent 1956-1958 stationed in the Panama Canal Zone where he cultivated a lifelong affection for the people and culture of the country.
Herb returned to Pittsburgh to work with his grandfather and father in the family's wholesale packaging business, Charles Stewart Co., founded by his grandfather in 1925. He enjoyed meeting with customers throughout the Pittsburgh area, and relished the conversations and relationships he developed along the way. He married Jo Mitchell in 1961, and they raised two daughters, Debbie and Laurie, in Mt. Lebanon. Herb was a lifelong member of Rodef Shalom Congregation and longtime member of Temple Emanuel.
Herb was an enthusiastic ambassador for Pittsburgh. He welcomed, hosted and led city tours for hundreds of international visitors from around the world for the Pittsburgh Council for International Visitors (PCIV), now Global Pittsburgh. In 2015, he was awarded the Global Ties U.S. Volunteer of the Year Award for 53 years of dedicated service in a ceremony in Washington, DC.
In 1960, he was present at Game 7 of the World Series between the Pirates and Yankees, sprinting onto the field at Forbes Field in celebration of Bill Mazeroski's championship-winning home run in the bottom of the 9th inning. He would celebrate this moment for the remainder of his life, most notably as a member of his cherished "Game 7 Gang" who organize an event at the Forbes Field wall every October 13 to replay the broadcast of the game and relive the Pirates' win. All of the clocks in Herb's home were set to 3:36 p.m., the time that Maz's homerun cleared the left field wall at Forbes Field.
Herb was fortunate to have found joy, love and companionship with Hope Bassichis for the past 34 years and had great fondness for her daughter Marni and grandson Henry who loved "Herba." Herb was an adoring grandfather to his own grandchildren Colby, Madison and Lindsay and reveled in their stories, photos, calls and visits.
Herb's family is deeply grateful for the care, compassion and kindness of the staff of Anova Hospice and Fair Oaks Senior Living.
He is survived by his daughters Lauren Soltman and Debra (Robert) Geer; three beloved grandchildren, Colby, Madison and Lindsay Geer; brother Nelson (Sharon) Soltman; nephews Daniel (Marie) Soltman and Michael (Pam) Soltman; niece Eileen (Eric) Madson; former spouse Jo Schuman and many extended family. He also leaves behind devoted life partner Hope Bassichis. He was predeceased by his father Harold Soltman, mother Phyllis (Stewart Soltman) Goldstein and brother Theodore Soltman.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Pirates Charities, 115 Federal Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15212; Global Pittsburgh, 137 West Bridge Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15120, or the Phyllis Goldstein and Harold Soltman Memorial Youth Fund, c/o Rodef Shalom Congregation, 4905 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213. Services at Ralph Schugar Chapel, Inc., 5509 Centre Avenue, Shadyside on Sunday, January 26, 2025 at 2 PM. Visitation one hour prior to services (1 PM - 2 PM). Interment West View Cemetery of Rodef Shalom Congregation. www.schugar.com
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Met Herb for the first time when his mother, Phyllis Goldstein, staged a party for me and my wife in 1991. She had found out from a banking acquaintance that I was a distant relative who was born in Pittsburgh but moved across the state to York, Pennsylvania in 1948. She invited many friends and acquaintances of my father, Milton Amdur, and from that evening until today Herb and I have been great friends. We visited many times after that first meeting and Herb traveled to our home in California to celebrate my wife’s birthday. Since that first meeting, we talked endlessly about the Pirates and my wife and I traveled to witness Herb throw out the ceremonial first pitch at PNC Park and made a trip to join Herb and his Game 7 Gang” relive the Bill Mazeroski magical moment at the Forbes Field wall.
Since that first meeting, Herb and Hope have enriched my life in so many way that it is impossible to put into words. I have nothing but wonderful memories of the nearly 35 years since that first meeting. I will carry those memories in my mind forever.
By Terry Amdur - January 23, 2025