Abundio "Jun" Guerrero Solomon Jr.

Abundio “Jun” Solomon, Jr. was born in Tanza, Cavite, Philippines to Abundio Solomon Sr. and Dalisay Guerrero on September 27, 1938. Jun was the second of nine children – Berting, Elmer, Lerma, Nora, Angie, Carol, Cynthia, and Judy. At the young age of eight, he worked on a fishing boat, called “Basnig” in Tagalog, to help his family survive. He also worked at a construction company fixing the streets in his town. Helping his family was always very important to Jun. Jun loved to sing and he was quite the singer. He often enjoyed joining his friends who had a “combo” (that’s what the Filipinos called a small band) and participating in the singing contests held in his and neighboring towns.

In 1958, Jun decided to enlist in the United States Navy to escape poverty with the expectation of financially helping his family. He enlisted as a culinary management specialist with most of his military career working on shore duty, but he was able to serve aboard the USS Alcor and USS Orion.

In 1963, Jun met the love of his life, Caridad, better known to friends and relatives as Cherrie. There was some reluctancy from Cherrie’s parents for her to get married because she was so young, 20 years old, so Jun and Cherrie eloped! Shortly thereafter they married in a catholic church and as the saying goes, that’s where it all started.

Jun’s enlistment in the Navy took him and Cherrie to various destinations where he was stationed for duty. While assigned in Biloxi, Mississippi, the Solomons started their family with daughter, Dianne, in 1967. Yokosuka, Japan was Jun’s next duty station. In 1969, Cherrie gave birth to their second born, Debbie. Two years later, the family moved to San Diego, California, and third daughter, Donna, was born in 1971. More moving was still to come with the next destination, Pensacola, Florida, where the fourth daughter, Michelle, was born in 1973. The family was now complete with four girls. Jun’s next destination for active duty would be Charleston, South Carolina, where he would retire after 20 years of service.

In 1979, the Solomons moved back to San Diego, and it was here that they established permanent residency. After retiring from the Navy, Jun held various jobs. Eventually, he went back to civil service as an analyst at the Naval Supply Center where he retired from in 2002. While at the Naval Supply Center, Jun was not immune from major medical conditions. He had survived two heart bypass surgeries, one in 1994 and another in 2001. In 2019, he received the unfortunate diagnosis of cirrhosis of the liver. He was in and out of the hospital to treat the side effects and symptoms.

Fortunately, Jun lived mostly a healthy life and he lived it to the fullest. In his spare time, you could find Jun at various events and activities for the Salinas and Tanza Filipino Chapter Associations of San Diego, that represented the provinces back home in the Philippines. He and Cherrie would volunteer serving at the food lines, dancing in the karakols, and singing with the choir at various functions. You could also find Jun at his favorite hang outs, the card club and the “sakeeno.” That was how the young grandkids at the time pronounced “casino.” He’d play the night away at the Pai Gao table or hanging out with friends while Cherrie finished her rounds at the penny slots.

Jun was known for his great style. His dark, black hair was always impeccable, clothes crisply ironed (mostly in white shirts, white slacks, and white leather shoes), maybe a stylish hat now and then, and who could not notice his signature sunglasses.

Music ran deep in the Solomon Family and was always a big part of Jun’s life. Several of his siblings sang, played instruments, and were part of musical groups. Jun’s passion, however, was singing. He loved to sing, especially in front of a captive audience. He was known as the Filipino Elvis because of how he styled his hair and his singing voice. He found joy in listening to his favorite recording artists such as Elvis, Matt Monro, Perry Como, and Kenny Rogers. Yes, he took every opportunity to hold a microphone and croon to an audience.

Jun passed away peacefully on July 25, 2023, with his wife and daughters by his side. He is survived by Cherrie, his wife of 60 years, and four daughters: Dianne Modelo, husband Leo and children Matthew (25) and Isabella (22); Debbie Cervantes, husband Navi and son Nicholas (18); Donna Pascasio, husband Eric and children Evan (18), Reiland (12) and Cole (12); and Michelle Gertes, husband Jerry and children Nathaniel (10) and Livvy (6).

A visitation at the Magnolia Room for Jun will be held Friday, August 18, 2023 from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM at Glen Abbey Memorial Park, 3838 Bonita Road, Bonita, CA 91902. A funeral mass at St. Mary's Catholic Church, 426 E. 7th Street, National City, CA 91950 will occur Saturday, August 19, 2023 from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM. A committal service will occur Saturday, August 19, 2023 from 1:30 PM to 2:00 PM at Glen Abbey Memorial Park.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.glenabbeysandiego.net for the Solomon family.