Obituary
Sol Hasson, PhD, 94
Beloved husband of Rachel Hasson and the late Tillie Hasson. Loving father of Dr. Albert (Marlee) Hasson, Sandy Hasson, Dr. Rachelle (Dr. Alan) Miller, and the late Dr. Miriam Hasson and father-in-law of Dr. David (Sharon) Sanders. Proud grandfather of Stephen (Kristin) Hasson, Alissa Hasson, Rafi (Fran) Miller, Sarina (Gaby) Novick, Ronit (Rabbi Chaim) Goldberg, Dr. Honi (Dr. Simona) Sanders, Dr. Akiva Sanders and Yinnon Sanders.
Cherished great grandfather of Max and Tillie, Tehillah, Neta, Eitan and Yedidyah, Amichai and Odelia, Aharon, David and Miriam. Dear brother of the late Dorine (the late Ino) Perahia and two other brothers, the late Jack and the late Dino who were murdered in the Holocaust along with Sol’s mother and father, the late Abraham and the late Rachel.
Sol Hasson was born in Naples, Italy on September 23, 1927. His parents moved there from Salonika (Thessaloniki), Greece. He escaped the Nazis with his older sister Dorine, arriving in New York at the age of 13 on Columbus Day, October 1940. He was sponsored by his paternal Uncle Ralph of New York and was then raised by his paternal Aunt Miriam in Chicago. After graduating Hyde Park High School, he served in the U.S. army (including time in Japan). He received his undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering from the Illinois Institute of Technology (thanks to the G.I. bill) and later his PhD from Northwestern University. He worked for many years at Advance Transformer Company before retiring.
Sol met his wife Tillie at the Junior Sephardic League in Chicago. He was a founding member of the Sephardic Congregation and remained very active for some 70 years. During his service as President of the congregation, the first (and current) synagogue was built. He served as Gabbai for over fifty years. He was extremely proud of his Sephardic and Ladino heritage. He served as the Midwest Chapter President of the American Sephardi Federation. He also enjoyed golf in his younger days and sailing most of his life.
Sol was an ardent Zionist and supporter of Israel as well as a firm believer in Jewish Day School education. He sent his children to Hillel Torah North Suburban Day School and the Ida Crown Jewish Academy (where some of his grandchildren also attended). He sponsored a Sephardic Chair at Ida Crown in memory of his beloved wife Tillie. Prior to her untimely death, Sol and his wife Tillie founded the Sol and Tillie Hasson Sephardic Day School in Skokie. Sol’s response to the Holocaust was promoting Jewish education and living a life of generosity and kindness toward others.
Service Monday 10AM at Chicago Jewish Funerals, 8851 Skokie Blvd, (at Niles Center Road), Skokie. Interment Waldheim. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Sephardic Congregation, 1819 Howard Street, Evanston, IL 60202, https://sephardiccongregation.shulcloud.com. To attend the funeral live stream, please visit our website. Arrangements by Chicago Jewish Funerals - Skokie Chapel, 847.229.8822, www.cjfinfo.com
Arrangements by Chicago Jewish Funerals. www.chicagojewishfunerals.com