Miguel Solorzano, a revered 20-year veteran in the hospitality industry known lovingly by friends as “Mr. Hospitality,” passed into the next life on Tuesday, April 26, 2022, at his Lakeview home surrounded by his family after a six-month private battle with cancer. He was 46.
Miguel was born on February 27, 1976, to Miguel Solorzano and Elizabeth Coronel in Caracas, Venezuela. At the age of 18, Miguel moved to Florida where he honed his hospitality talents in various hotel operations and was later promoted to several management roles. His career brought him to the Crescent City in 2007 as part of the management team at the Royal Sonesta. He worked for more than a decade as an inspiring young leader in management at hotels in New Orleans and Florida. In 2017 he was tapped to be the first General Manager of the new Sazerac House on Canal Street, where he planned and oversaw the construction, specialized design and the successful grand opening of one of New Orleans’ top world-class tourist destinations.
Miguel is a 1997 graduate of Florida International University, where he studied Hospitality Management. He graduated from U.E. Instituto Escuela in Caracas, Venezuela in 1993.
Miguel had a labor of love for the camera lens as a consummate still photographer, shooting all kinds of emotions of the Big Easy which he fell in love with when he first visited 15 years ago. He loved capturing pictures of New Orleans’ unique food, historical architecture, fancy drinks and creative cityscapes.
Miguel, described by friends as a “class act,” had a welcoming spirit, making friends and even strangers feel at ease whenever they were in his warm company. His adventurous zest for life coupled with his wry sense of humor made Miguel the life of the party. His friendliness, professionalism, grace and zest for life made Miguel a joy to be around. Taking a page from the author Paulo Coelho, Miguel followed his dreams and transformed his life.
Miguel is survived by his loving partner of 13 years, Clark Castle of New Orleans. He is the beloved son of Miguel Solorzano of Caracas, Venezuela and Elizabeth Coronel of Miramar, Florida. He leaves behind his sister Angela Solorzano de Maniglia and brother-in-law Victor Maniglia of Caracas, Venezuela; mother-in-law and father-in-law Gayle and Glynn Pittman of Walker, Louisiana; sister-in-law and brother-in-law Cathleen and Chris Hyde of Denham Springs, Louisiana.
He was affectionally known as “Tio” to his nieces and nephews Averie and Amelia Hyde of Denham Springs, and Angelo, Vittorio and Camila of Caracas, Venezuela.
Miguel was also the proud “Papi” to Santiago and Gambit, the fun-loving, four-legged kids he and Clark joyously parented together.
Miguel’s family would like to gratefully thank the Goldring family, the doctors and nurses at M.D. Anderson in Houston, and the hundreds of loving and supporting friends in New Orleans and around the world for their care and affection in reaching out in the final weeks of Miguel’s life.
Relatives and friends of Miguel are invited to attend the memorial service on Friday, April 29, 2022, in the chapel of Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home, 5100 Pontchartrain Blvd. in New Orleans at 11 a.m. A visitation will be held at the funeral home beginning at 9 a.m. To view and sign the guest book, please visit www.lakelawnmetairie.com. In lieu of flowers, consider a gift to The Team Gleason Foundation.
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