Victoria R. Solursh

VICTORIA R. SOLURSH

Iowa City

Vicki Solursh passed away on Monday morning, Feb. 22, 2021, with her beloved daughter Libby by her side. Born Victoria R. Raskin in May of 1942, she grew up in Beverly Hills, Calif., where she attended Beverly Hills High School and met her future husband Michael Solursh in geometry class. Vicki attended Los Angeles City College and UCLA, where she received her undergraduate degree in English and Women's Studies. She and Michael married in 1964 and moved to Seattle, Wash., where Vicki completed her first Master's degree in English and later obtained her teaching certificate from Seattle University. In 1972 Michael and Vicki moved to Iowa City, Iowa, where Michael accepted a faculty position at the University of Iowa. Vicki taught English and Women's Studies while she completed a second Master's Degree in Library Science. She was hired as a teacher and then served as the head librarian at the prestigious Cedar Rapids Washington High School, where she loved working for the next 30 years.

Known to so many as Mrs. Solursh, she dedicated her life to giving others the opportunity to learn. She also found time to work tirelessly in the interest of Women's Rights issues, including trying to pass the Equal Rights Amendment in Iowa. She gave both her time and resources to local Democratic and human rights organizations and taught her daughter how to live by the Jewish value of Tikkun Olam (repair the world). After her husband passed away in 1994, Vicki became active in AIDS awareness campaigns and volunteered for local organizations to increase education and decrease stigma associated with AIDS. She resourcefully raised her daughter Libby as a single parent, enduring the path of raising a teenage daughter by reading every parenting book, seeking out support, and creating opportunities for love and learning every step of the way.

Vicki's was always a life of learning. She made sure to stay up to date with current affairs by reading two daily newspapers and countless magazines each month. She was also one of the first in her generation to learn how to use a computer, regularly cursing technology despite her interest in it. Following her retirement, she continued her love of learning by taking classes at Kirkwood Community College and becoming active with the Iowa City Senior Center. At the Senior Center she met many new friends and combined her love of education and movies by teaching a weekly class where she screened films and conducted a discussion group.

Vicki also traveled regularly, again in the interest of expanding her knowledge. These trips gave her the opportunity to indulge in one of her greatest pleasures: meeting someone new and learning their life story. Vicki used to say that if you stayed curious and took an interest in other people's histories, you would never be bored. Vicki was happiest when she could make someone laugh with her witty sense of humor, make someone smile with a kind or generous gesture or engage in an intelligent conversation about politics or current events. Vicki found joy from pulling the last dandelion in her yard, offering sound advice, wisdom or encouragement to those who sought it, reading outside in the sunshine, watching a good movie or an episode of Law & Order she hadn't yet seen and eating her favorite treats; popcorn and frozen yogurt. Those who were close to Vicki found comfort in her genuine interest and were put at ease by her humility. Her steadfastness, fairmindedness, generosity of spirit, and boundless kindness live on in the many lives she touched, especially those of her daughter Libby, son-in-law Martin and grandson Toren. She hopes to be remembered when you read a good book or see a terrific movie, and as a humanitarian who did her part to make the world a more equitable place.

A memorial will be planned in Iowa City once we can all safely gather together.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to an organization whose cause you believe in.

A few of Vicki's favorites include:

Planned Parenthood: https://www.weareplannedparenthoodaction.org/

Emma Goldman Clinic: https://www.emmagoldman.com/

Iowa City Shelter House: https://shelterhouseiowa.org/

Iowa Public Television: https://www.iowapbs.org/

Iowa City Senior Center: https://www.icseniorcenterfriends.org/