Paul A. Sollitto

Paul A. Sollitto, a loving husband and grandfather, passed away peacefully at his home surrounded by loved ones on December 16th - he was 83 years old.

Born in Providence on July 21, 1942, Paul was a proud, lifelong Rhode Islander that loved his country and served in the U.S. Air Force. He graduated from Classical High School, lettering in football,  the University of Rhode Island,  and Suffolk University Law School. He went on to build a distinguished legal career in real estate, banking, and probate law, eventually leading to his appointment as a Probate Judge in North Kingstown. Paul’s commitment to his community went beyond the courtroom, serving for years on the North Kingstown Library Board of Trustees, as a Commodore at the Wickford Yacht Club, as well as contributing to several other formal and informal groups and causes. He was a trusted counselor to generations of Rhode Islanders, where clients - and countless others - knew him for steady judgment, clear communication, and unwavering ethics.

Paul cared deeply about his work, but he cared more deeply about a perfect day on the ski slopes. He would giddily count down the days until ski season began - no one thought more about snow in the off-season than Paul Sollitto. He and his wife Linda channeled that love of skiing into teaching others - they were both ski instructors for over 20 years at Cranmore and Attitash, ultimately settling on Bretton Woods as their home lodge after retiring from teaching. He chased that passion for skiing until the very end, logging nearly 100 days during the 2025 ski season at 82 years young. 

If skiing was his passion, boating was the craft he maybe excelled most at. He often could be found cruising Narragansett Bay in one of his beloved boats, often restored by hand to his exact liking. On the water he was a champion sailor, competing across the country and winning numerous championships across the region in a myriad of classes, including Sea Sprites, Ensigns, Etchells, and J‑22s. When he needed a new challenge beyond land and sea, Paul turned to the skies - carrying that love of aviation learned while serving his country into a private pilot’s license, flying for many years out of local Rhode Island airports.

Paul’s greatest joy was family. He is survived by his loving wife of 41 years, Linda Sollitto, his two step-children, April Williams and her husband Ned McCrory and Ted Williams, his grandchildren Alex Issa, Kate Naranjo and her husband Galo Naranjo, Madison Williams, and Sydney Williams and his great-granddaughter Emilia Naranjo - not to mention his beloved Maine Coon Cats, Mac and Ginger. 

Paul’s circle of friends was vast, from the Ski Slopes, to Narragansett Bay and locally where for years you could find Paul and some of his closest friends at Oak Hill Tavern in North Kingstown every Saturday for their standing noon lunch date. 

Paul will be remembered for his generosity, his infectious laugh, his steady hand, and the way he welcomed others—on the water, on the slopes, and in any other place you were lucky enough to cross paths with him.

In Honor of Paul, and that standing Saturday lunch date, we would like to invite all of his friends to a celebration of life at one of his favorite places - the Wickford Yacht Club - including a lunch, appropriately served by the Oak Hill Tavern. We would love to see you there for one more lunch with Paul - additional details and further information provided below. 

Celebration of Life Service: Saturday, December 27, 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m 

Remarks & Remembrance 11:00am-Noon

Lunch Noon-1:00pm

Wickford Yacht Club, 165 Pleasant Street, Wickford, Rhode Island.

The family invites friends to share memories and stories at the celebration. 

In lieu of flowers donations to Yes Kids Operation Downhill ski and snowboard

https://yeskids.org/programs-boston-youth/snowsports-programs/#downhillskiandsnowboard

Arrangements have been entrusted to THE CRANSTON-MURPHY FUNERAL HOME of WICKFORD

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