Beth
Richards SOLTERO
7127
Hillgreen Drive
Dallas, TX 75214
(home)
214-826-7742 (office) 214-820-2273
Biography
Elizabeth Anne (Richards) Soltero – Beth
Born in NYC 6-29-1943. Two brothers, Chuck and Jack (graduated
Penfield High School in 1957). Dad worked for Graflex cameras
(based in Rochester/Pittsford) and we were transferred to
Burbank, Ca., in 1947. After polio (which left me totally
paralyzed) at age of 4, my parents got me into swimming and
eventually competitive swimming which helped me to regain
my physical strength. Transferred back to Rochester in 1953.
Attended Brighton School for 6th grade and then parents moved
to Salt Road in East Penfield and I started Penfield in 7th
Grade. At time of graduation, I was 16 (youngest in the class)
and not sure what I wanted to pursue. I worked at Genesee
Hospital for a year after high school. My brother, Jack, was
coming back from the Navy and I decided to go to RIT with
him (1961). I worked full-time at the hospital and received
my AAS in business in 1963. Moved to NYC and became secretary
of the Medical Department for Sinclair Oil Corp. The medical
director was a cardiologist and a world leader in heart research
which launched my interest and career in heart research. I
met Gene, my husband, in 1965 over his high cholesterol while
he was on a fellowship from MIT and working at Sinclair! We
became “best friends” and married in August, 1969.
We moved to Oklahoma City for 11 months (I led a research
study for L-Dopa as a new treatment for Parkinson’s
Disease) and then to Dallas where we still reside. Gene has
been in the Oil and Gas business throughout his entire career.
While in Oklahoma and Gene out of the country, I slept though
one of the worst tornadoes to come through Oklahoma City.
It picked up our little sports car parked right under our
bedroom window and turned it 90º, but did no damage to
the apartment. I was surprised when I looked out the window
in the morning. That was my introduction to tornadoes! After
our move to Dallas, I stayed in medical research, becoming
an editor for the Journal of Clinical Pathology. Gene’s
work has taken us to many parts of the world and throughout
the US and we took the girls with us whenever possible. Travelling,
meeting people, forming long-lasting friendships, and learning
about customs has been a fascinating part of our lives.
We have 2 daughters, Karen (4-12-74) and Wendy (1-12-78 to
10-28-00). I remained in the medical field (heart research)
until the birth of our first child. I stayed home and raised
the girls while assisting occasionally on special projects.
My activities included civic, philanthropic and school projects.
Returned to heart research at Baylor University Medical Center
in 1991 on a part-time basis. This evolved to obtaining my
board certifications in clinical research and became Administrative
Director of the Clinical Cardiovascular Research Center at
Baylor. The department focuses on medical and surgical cardiovascular
clinical trials, pharmaceutical sponsored as well as NIH and
original studies—including very exciting work with autologous
stem cell studies.
Upon my formal retirement last year, the department was renamed
the Soltero Cardiovascular Research Center which was held
as a surprise to me and announced at a dinner that was explained
to me as “an event to promote cardiovascular research”.
Gene and Karen knew about it and some very dear friends from
near and far were there to add to the surprise along with
professionals and donors. As a couple of people mentioned
to me afterwards, it is unusual to have something named for
you while you are still alive! So very true and very humbling!
Tragically, our daughter, Wendy while a senior at Occidental
College in Pasadena, Ca., was a victim of a random robbery
spree on 10-28-00. Karen and Wendy were not only sisters,
but best-friends roommates, and soul mates. They lived together
while Karen was finishing her MBA and Wendy was finishing
her undergraduate degree. If you wish, visit our website,
www.soltero.org for more information. Karen still lives in
the LA area, works part-time for Zion Oil while pursuing her
photography (www.Karensolterophotography.com) along with writing
her first novel and several columns. She was an Olympic torchbearer
in 2002 (in her sister’s memory), has participated in
triathlons, sailed with her Daddy and pursued other sports.
My brothers married sisters. Chuck lives in Rome, New York
and has 2 daughters – one who was tragically killed
by a car in 1999. Jack, retired from Kodak, has 2 sons and
lived in Greece, NY until his death in June of 2010. My parents
maintained their home on Salt Road until their deaths two
months apart in 2001.
We sail (race) Snipe class, ski, play tennis, read, hike,
golf, exercise, swim, and have traveled extensively both for
business and pleasure. I use to run before arthritis and have
not been able to sail competitively either. Our health has
been excellent other than my arthritis that has required multiple
surgeries and artificial joints and repairs. This has had
an impact on the level of my sports but I work through it.
Gene and Karen compete as skipper and crew in international
sailing regattas while I take the photographs from the committee
boat! Actually, that is why he won’t be with me at the
cocktail party on Friday evening as he is competing in the
Snipe Nationals in Annapolis – but flying to Rochester
on Saturday morning for the remainder of the reunion and to
visit with my family and friends as well.
The loss of our beloved daughter has changed our lives in
ways no one could predict. We are active with the Brady campaign
to promote responsible gun ownership and I have lobbied in
Washington. My work with the Texas Crime Commission has taken
me to prisons to discuss with inmates the ramifications of
crime on family and friends and may train as a mediator. I
do wherever else I can to be of support to those who walk
this same path and work in Wendy’s memory in the hopes
I can perhaps have some small impact on reducing the escalating
crime in our society.
It was truly a delight to meet up with some of our classmates
and renew old friendships at a July event a couple of years
ago in Penfield. We live in Dallas, near White Rock Lake,
have lots of room and welcome visitors!
Beth (Richards) Soltero
7127 Hillgreen Drive
Dallas, TX 5214
(home) 214-826-7742
(office) 214-820-2273
elizabso@baylorehealth.edu
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