Résumé

Military service, US Army, 1944-c. 1946. He enlisted in the US Army on 07/13/1944 in Seattle, WA. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation National Archives at College Park; College Park, Maryland, USA; Electronic Army Serial Number Merged File, 1938-1946; NAID: 1263923; Record Group Title: Records of the National Archives and Records Administration, 1789-ca. 2007; Record Group: 64; Box Number: 14417; Reel: 12, accessed 02/06/2023.) Soldano was wounded in combat in 04/1945, causing damage to his metacarpal bones and ulnar nerve and forcing his convalescence until 05/1946. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation National Archives and Records Administration; Hospital Admission Card Files, ca. 1970 - ca. 1970; NAI: 570973; Record Group Number: Records of the Office of the Surgeon General (Army), 1775-1994; Record Group Title: 112, accessed 02/06/2023.) He was awarded a Purple Heart for his wartime service.

Partner, [Roderick] Parr and Soldano, Architects, Seattle, WA, 1953-1956.

Principal, Michael J. Soldano, Architect, Seattle, WA, c. 1956-1989.

Partner, Soldano | Luth, Architects, Seattle, WA, 1989-c. 2008. In 2023, the firm had an office at 1315 NE Ravenna Boulevard, Seattle, WA 98105.

High School / College

Coursework, Broadway High School, Seattle, WA, c. 1944. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation National Archives at St. Louis; St. Louis, Missouri; WWII Draft Registration Cards for Washington, 10/16/1940-03/31/1947; Record Group: Records of the Selective Service System, 147; Box: 167, accesed 02/06/2023.) Soldano may have completed only three years of high school when he enlisted in the US Army in 07/1944. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation National Archives at College Park; College Park, Maryland, USA; Electronic Army Serial Number Merged File, 1938-1946; NAID: 1263923; Record Group Title: Records of the National Archives and Records Administration, 1789-ca. 2007; Record Group: 64; Box Number: 14417; Reel: 12, accessed 02/06/2023.)

B.Arch., University of Washington, Seattle (UW), Seattle, WA, 1952. He was a classmate of Donald S. Wallace, Jane Hastings, Richard Bouillon, Maurice Sullam and Jack Stansfield, among others.

Relocation

Michael John Soldano was born in Seattle to parents of Greek ancestry. He first lived with his parents at 4048 Cascadia Avenue (aka 40th Avenue South) in Seattle. (See Seattle, Washington, City Directory, 1926, p. 1370.) His father's family worked in restaurants. As noted in the 1930 US Census, they owned this residence at 4048 Cascadia, on the northern edge of Seattle's Lakewood neighborhood. The house had a value of $4,000, about average for a single-family dwelling in the city. (See Ancestry.com Source Citation Year: 1930; Census Place: Seattle, King, Washington; Page: 24A; Enumeration District: 0205; FHL microfilm: 2342237, accessed 02/06/2023.) They continued to live here until at least 1934, when John Soldano applied for US naturalization. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation National Archives and Records Administration (Nara); Washington, D.C.; Naturalization Records of the U.s. District Court For the Western District of Washington, 1890-1957; Microfilm Roll: 98; Microfilm Serial: M1542, accessed 02/06/2023.)

By 1940, his family had relocated to the Portage Bay neighborhood, just south of the University of Washington (UW). The UW would have been in very convenient walking distance from this house. According to the 1940 US Census, Michael Soldano resided with his parents and two siblings in a residence at 3206 Fuhrman Avenue in Seattle, WA. The family owned this house that had a value of $4,000. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1940; Census Place: Seattle, King, Washington; Roll: m-t0627-04377; Page: 3A; Enumeration District: 40-132, accessed 02/06/2023.)

On 01/10/1944, the day of his 18th birthday, Soldano continued to live at 3206 Fuhrman Avenue in Seattle with his family. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation National Archives at St. Louis; St. Louis, Missouri; WWII Draft Registration Cards for Washington, 10/16/1940-03/31/1947; Record Group: Records of the Selective Service System, 147; Box: 167, accesed 02/06/2023.) The 1950 US Census located Michael remaining at home at this address. By this time, his younger sister Mary had married and her husband Dimetry Tileper lived with them. (Mary worked in a bank, while Dimetry worked as a restaurant busboy.) In 1950, a boarder, Eugenia Tandoo, a widow, also lived at 3206 Fuhrman.

In 1992, Soldano lived at 9521 Sand Point Way NE. A year later, he had relocated to Seattle's Portage Bay neighborhood and remained here until at least 1995.

Soldano died of pancreatic cancer on 02/23/2009 at his residence. (See Seattle Times.com, "Michael J. Soldano, Sr.," published 03/08/2009, accessed 08/09/2023.)

Parents

His mother was Catina Mary Strogilou (born 08/23/1903 in Athens, Greece-d. 06/24/1965 in Seattle, WA) managed the household that included an older brother Nicholas J. Soldano (born 08/23/1924 in Seattle, WA-d. 06/30/2008 in Bothell, WA)) and younger sister Mary Soldano (born 12/25/1927 in Seattle, WA).

Michael's father was John N. Soldano (born 03/29/1896 in Canea, Crete, Greece--d. 04/30/1986 in Seattle, WA), who cooked in and owned his own restaurant. His 1934 US naturalization form noted that his family was of "Southern Italian" race, and that he traveled to the US under the name "John Soultano." Before coming to the US, John last resided in Canea, Crete. He sailed for the US from Patras, Greece, aboard the Cunard liner, S.S. Ivernia, arriving in New York, NY, on 08/16/1912. He moved to King County, WA, by 07/1916. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation National Archives and Records Administration (Nara); Washington, D.C.; Naturalization Records of the U.s. District Court For the Western District of Washington, 1890-1957; Microfilm Roll: 98; Microfilm Serial: M1542, accessed 02/06/2023.)

As noted in the 1940 US Census, John had completed 8th grade, while Mary had finished one year of high school. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1940; Census Place: Seattle, King, Washington; Roll: m-t0627-04377; Page: 3A; Enumeration District: 40-132, accessed 02/06/2023.) John and Catina married in a Seattle Greek Orthodox Church on 08/17/1922. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Washington State Archives; Olympia, Washington; Washington Marriage Records, 1854-2013; Reference Number: kingcoarchmc83269, accessed 02/06/2023.)

Spouse

Michael Soldano married at least twice. His obituary indicated that Michael Soldano married his wife Alexandra c. 1953. (See Seattle Times.com, "Michael J. Soldano, Sr.," published 03/08/2009, accessed 08/09/2023.) A marriage certificate dating from 09/1985 exists. This would suggest either he wed Alexandra in 1953 and renewed his vows with her in 1985, or separated or divorced from her and remarried her.

He wed Alexandra M. Soldano (born c. 09/1928 in Camas, WA) on 09/16/1985 in Seattle District Court. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Washington State Archives; Olympia, Washington; Washington Marriage Records, 1854-2013; Reference Number: kingcoarchmc850916_07504, accessed 08/09/2023)

Children

He and Alexandra had three children Catherine Soldano Wilson (born 05/1958 in WA), Lisabeth Soldano Hamilton and Michael J. Soldano, Jr.

Biographical Notes

His World War II draft registration card indicated that Soldano was Caucasian with a dark complexion, brown eyes and black hair. He stood 5-feet, 8-and-1/2-inches tall and weighed 160 pounds. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation National Archives at St. Louis; St. Louis, Missouri; WWII Draft Registration Cards for Washington, 10/16/1940-03/31/1947; Record Group: Records of the Selective Service System, 147; Box: 167, accesed 02/06/2023.)

SSN: 532-12-7349.

• Seattle, WA United States (Architect's Death)
  Seattle, WA United States

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