Col. Patricio F. Soliman Jr. March 26, 1932 – June 8, 2023

A military offi cer, physician, Vietnam veteran, golfer, shriner, Mason, husband, father, uncle, friend. At 5:57pm on Thursday, June 8, 2023, retired Col. Patricio F. Soliman Jr. took the heavenly seat that was prepared for him from long ago. He was 91 years old.

Col. Soliman earned his Doctor of Medicine degree at age 24 from the University of Santo Thomas in Manila, Philippines. He was born to Patricio Soliman Sr., a self-made accountant who served as municipal treasurer in Calumpit, Bulacan and as accountant/auditor of the provincial American-owned/ran sugar mill in Florida Blanca, Pampanga, and Rosario Francisco, the sole surviving member of a family killed by a Spanish fl u outbreak in the 1910’s. Col. Soliman had a humble upbringing together with his 3 older sisters. In his early years, he developed a love for sports and excelled at baseball, tennis, bowling, swimming and golf. Throughout his lifetime, he amassed 100+ tournament trophies in these sports, most especially golf, which very early on became his favorite past-time. Col. Soliman joined the Philippine military in 1957 and retired in 1977 at the height of his military career as Zone Surgeon, Commanding Offi cer of the Medical Team, and Special Staff to the Zone Commander in Camp Olivas, to move his family to the United States with a dream of giving his children a future in a country of freedom and opportunity.

Dr. Soliman received training in psychiatry and neurology at Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington, D.C., and training in neuro-psychiatry and internal medicine at the Armed Forces of the Philippines Medical Center V. Luna General Hospital. He completed residency in general practice and physical medicine at Ravenswood Hospital and Schwab Hospital in Chicago, IL, and residency in occupational health at Rutgers Medical School in Piscataway, NJ. Dr. Soliman maintained a private practice in Chicago, Kentucky and Indiana for 20 years while serving in various hospitals and rehabilitation centers as medical director, ER physician, and industrial physician. He was a Fellow with the American College of International Physicians and with the American Academy of Family Physicians, and was a long-time member of many national and international medical associations and societies.

Perhaps Col. Soliman’s proudest achievement was that in 1968, as a military physician, he volunteered with the Philippine Army who joined forces with the U.S. Army in Vietnam. His service there earned him a Philippine Presidential Citation badge, a Letter of Commendation from the Surgeon General of the Philippine Armed Forces, two Military Merit medals, a Vietnam Campaign medal, a First Honor medal, a Letter of Commendation from the Provincial Chief of Vietnam, and a Letter of Commendation from the United States III Cords.

On Thursday, June 15, following a wake at the Camp Aguinaldo Memorial Chapel/ Mortuary, Col. Soliman received a distinguished military funeral with the traditional 21-gun salute at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City. He is survived by his wife, Wilma Garcia Soliman, and fi ve of his six children from his late wife of 62 years, Celestina de la Cruz Soliman– Greta, Lot, Pat, Arnold and Solita, 13 grandchildren, & 11 great grandchildren.