Obituary of Roy W. Sollenberger

Roy Walter Sollenberger, aged 75, of Vineland, passed away at Inspira Medical Center on Saturday, April 8, 2023, after a valiant battle with cancer.

Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on March 5, 1948, Roy was raised in Runnemede, New Jersey, graduated from Triton Regional High School in the class of 1967, and served the United States Army while stationed in South Korea during the Vietnam War. Roy went on to Cumberland County and Stockton Colleges, where he earned his degree in horticulture. He immensely enjoyed his work for 35 years with the State of New Jersey as a Senior Horticulturalist inspecting Cumberland County nurseries, as well as other work with plant disease and entomological infestation throughout the state.

Roy was known to all for his engaging personality, making friends with every person he encountered. Intellectually curious, Roy was a voracious reader on a variety of subjects, and often would cite his favorite poet, Kahlil Gibran, when making reference to existential theory. He was an avid appreciator of all types of music, and in his later years, learned to play the guitar. Among Roy's many interests, he took great joy in tending to his yard, garden and koi pond, and spent many of his hours in quiet reflection outdoors. Roy loved his family deeply, and his favorite times of year were those in which he was hosting or attending a Sollenberger family event.

He is predeceased by his parents, Samuel Robert & Margaret Gladys Hendricks Sollenberger and his older brother, Robert Keller Sollenberger.

Roy is survived by his beloved wife, Dalia Williams Sollenberger; son, Gandalf (Christina) Sollenberger; daughters, Jessica Sollenberger, Margaret Salkind, and Silvia (Andrew) Davis. He is also survived by his siblings, Ralph (Susan) Sollenberger, Joan "Bunny" (Ed) Staszak, Ann (Todd) Cramer, and Karl (Tanya) Sollenberger; his ten grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; his nieces and nephews; a loving extended family; his four-legged best friend, Hannah; and many, many friends.

A celebration of Roy's life will be held from 5pm until 7pm on Friday, April, 14, 2023 at DeMarco-Luisi Funeral Home, 2755 S. Lincoln Avenue, Vineland.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations in Roy's name to support Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Checks, made payable to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, should be mailed to: Attn: Community Fundraising Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Office of Development, PO Box 27106, New York, NY 10087. Please indicate on the check memo line that the gift is in memory of Roy Sollenberger.