Vince Solano

Vincent A. ‘Vince” Solano, age 84, U.S. Marine Corps veteran, a resident of Lisle, IL since 1975, formerly of Chicago and Lombard, IL, passed away on Monday, August 12, 2024, at Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital in Downers Grove, IL. He was born on September 21, 1939, in Chicago, IL.

 

Beloved husband of Karen Solano (nee O’Reilly), whom he married March 5, 1966, loving father of Vincent Solano, Mara Cooney, Michael (Julie) Solano, Jayme (Peter) Flowers and Nicholas (Rena) Solano, adored grandfather of Abbie, Vince, Kate and Luke Solano; Mac, Sam, Emma, Ben, Jack, Graham and Charlie Cooney; Jaye (Luis) Del la Torres, Michael and Max Solano; Sophia, Nicholas (Tori), Grace, Elena and Natalie Flowers; Tori, Nicholas, Ellie, Matthew and Caroline Solano, cherished great-grandfather of Aribella and Luis Del la Torres, devoted son of the late Vincent and Irene Lillian (nee Broniec) Solano, dear brother of Adam (Darlene), Rose Allred and Anthony (Cindy) Solano, brother-in-law of Nancy Corless, Janet Murray, Joanell (Frank) Zawaski and Linda O’Reilly, loving nephew of Kay Solano, fond uncle, great-uncle and friend of many.

 

Vince started his career practicing law in 1967. He was a 1961 graduate of Christian Brothers University, Memphis, TN and Loyola University Law School, Chicago in 1967. While in law school he worked as a bailiff for the former Dean of Loyola Law School, Judge John C. Fitzgerald and thereafter as a Federal Marshall for Judge William Lynch of the Federal District Court.

 

After graduating from law school, Vince was employed as a tax attorney for Sears Roebuck and Company before becoming Assistant State’s Attorney for DuPage County from 1969 until 1973. In 1973 along with Ronald Berns and Joseph Laraia, they formed the law firm, Laraia, Solano and Berns. Soon thereafter, Robin Hill Development Company was formed. Vince and Ron were the sole principals of the Robin Hill Companies under which they acquired and developed vacant land around the metropolitan and suburban areas of Chicago. They constructed, leased, managed, developed, and sold shopping centers, residential subdivisions, apartments, and industrial properties. They owned and operated restaurants, golf courses and an RV dealership. With their small two-man operation (and Karen as the backbone of the businesses) they completed the following:

 

Briarbrook Commons – Shopping Center – Wheaton, IL

Glendale Commons – Shopping Center – Glendale Heights, IL

Poplar Creek Shopping Center – Hoffman Estates, IL

Poplar Creek Tennis Club – Hoffman Estates, IL

Arboretum Woods – Residential Subdivision – Lisle, IL

Tallahassee Hilton Hotel – Hotel – Tallahassee, FL

Sandcastle Condominiums – Marco Island, FL

“The Point” – Residential Condominiums – Marco Island, FL

Eagle Creek Golf Club – Residential Development / Golf Course – Naples, FL

Arboretum lakes – Business Park – Lisle, IL

Glendale Lakes – Residential Subdivision / Golf Course – Glendale Heights, IL

Royal Fox Golf Club – Residential Subdivision / Golf Course - St. Charles, IL

Starr Valley Ranch – Log Home Development – Buchanan, MI

Salem and Bristol Properties – Residential Subdivisions – Salem & Bristol, WI

Broken Arrow – Residential Subdivision / Golf Course – Lockport, IL

Batavia Business Park – Industrial Business Park – Batavia, IL

 

Vince and Ron were also General Partners in the following apartment developments:

 

Kensington Apartments – Atlanta, GA

Oak Forest Apartments – Atlanta, GA

White Oak Apartments – Atlanta, GA

Haystack/Golfview Apartments – Largo, FL

Hearthstone Apartments – Atlanta, GA

Safari Apartments – Tampa, FL

Fox Lair Apartments – Memphis, TN

 

Vince and Ron also owned and operated several restaurants including:

Gino’s West – Downers Grove and Woodridge, IL

Billys – Chicago, IL

Blondie’s Nightclub – Chicago, IL

Billy’s Lincolnwood, Lincolnwood, IL

 

Vince’s final development and his crown jewel is Black Sheep Golf Club. His love of the game and passion for golf course design culminated in his conceptual vision becoming reality with Black Sheep. The Club was under construction by 2001 and completed and opened in 2002. Vince was and still is the driving force behind every aspect of the Club, from the detail in the course style and design to the long-time staff and the simplicity of the operation. Vince felt Black Sheep was the ultimate achievement in his career and it will remain his incredible legacy to be carried on through his family and the entire Black Sheep family for generations.

 

A private celebration of Vince’s life was held.

 

In lieu of flowers, donations in Vince's memory may be made to: 

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105, 1-800-822-6344, https://www.stjude.org