Solomon Ponizovskiy

December 23, 2014


Norfolk — Solomon Ponizovskiy, 82, died Nov. 28, 2014 in Sentara Norfolk General Hospital from multiple myeloma.

He was born July 8, 1932 in Kiev, Ukraine. In 1941 when Nazis advanced to occupy Ukraine, his family was fortunate to be evacuated to Ural Mountains because his father worked at the Kiev Arsenal, the largest armaments factory. His father died during WWII in Ural from pneumonia. After the war, Solomon graduated from Kiev Polytechnic Institute. He moved to Moscow, Russia in 1961 and for the rest of his career worked as chief electrical engineer for the city water supply/ water treatment plant. He immigrated to the U.S.A. in 1995 and lived in Norfolk Granby House.

Solomon loved his family and he was strongly dedicated to his work and enjoyed the company of many friends. He loved books, cultural events and his automobile.

Solomon lived in the times of Stalinism, World War II , the Holocaust, and statebacked anti-Semitism, but he always was an unwaveringly Jewish man. It was the core of his identity and only in America could he openly be who he truly was.

Solomon was predeceased by his parents, Tsilya Sigalova and Abram Ponizovskiy, his brother Isai Sigalov and his sister Lilya Rozhenko.

Solomon leaves behind his wife of 53 years, Marina Ponizovskaya, his daughter Yuliya Dobrydneva and her husband Boris, his brother Mikhail Ponizovskiy (Germany), nephew Mikhail Solomonik (Irina), and the apple of his eye, his only grandson, Ilya Dobrydnev.

Burial was in Forest Lawn Cemetery with Rabbi Michael Panitz officiating.

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