The news of Teresa “Silvia” Solano’s and Joseph Mandel’s passings was brought to many by a heartbreaking email from Silvia’s son, Rob Solano, the co-founder and executive director of Churches United for Fair Housing (CUFFH). They both died on the same day, within the third week of March.
Joseph Mandel a retired IBEW Local 3 Labor Leader was introduced to the Solano family through Rob’s older brother, who was a good friend. From then on, over three decades Mandel viewed Rob like a son and Rob looked up to him as a father. Mandel passed away from COVID-19.
Teresa “Silvia” Solano was the mother of four, Rob was her youngest. “She drove me to school every day, even high school. She just wanted to be with me. My older brothers and sister had already grown up but she loved being involved in everything we did. She was a woman of faith, a member of Saints Peter and Paul Church, and a proud member of CUFFH,” said Rob Solano.
