Julian Smolens

Julian Smolens peacefully passed away January 26, 2015. He was born in the Bronx, New York, on April 9, 1924. Julian was a true leader holding various occupations during his lifetime including grocery management in Malibu and throughout Southern California; owned and operated Mr. J's restaurant in Los Angeles; owned Roadrunner Realty in Las Vegas; and was the proprietor of Gatsby's Party Rentals in Las Vegas. As a young man, Julian proudly served as a Sergeant of the United States Army in World War II and received a Purple Heart. While Julian was in the service, he met the love of his life, Iris Cooper, in a nightclub where she was singing. That relationship resulted in a sixty-six year marriage, until she passed away July 15, 2010. Julian gained solid life-long friends and was known as a man who would give the "shirt off his back." His generosity to friends and family was legendary; his love of his daughters, granddaughters, grandson, and great-grandson was without parallel. An avid UNLV Runnin' Rebels basketball fan, Julian cherished time with his "buddies" in Las Vegas and on-the-road. Even at ninety, Julian appeared and acted twenty years younger, keeping up with the global scene, sports, music, and vocabulary word games. He will be greatly missed for his gregarious personality, hilarious "comebacks", and his devotion to his daughters; Marilyn Polovina (Jack Bulavsky), Judy Boyd (Bill) and Trudy Abell. His grandchildren include Gina Polovina (Ira Sternberg), Juliette Abell Mongeon (Brian), Shane Abell; and great grandson, Antonio Gutierrez.

Arrangements under the direction of Palm Eastern Mortuary, Las Vegas, NV.