Obituary

Popular East Rockaway teacher dies

Solomon ‘The Soulman’ Yousha was 65; active member of Oceanside Jewish Centre

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Solomon Yousha, of Long Beach, a popular and enthusiastic science teacher at East Rockaway High School for 26 years, has died after an illness. He was 65.

Described as an “East Rockaway school legend” and a “great soul,” Yousha was born August 28, 1949, and attended Brandeis University from 1972 through 1976. He served in the U. S. Army as a Green Beret, and as a medic in Vietnam. He worked at East Rockaway High School from 1986 to 2012, and had an affinity for chemistry. He was the advisor to the Class of 2010 — a class that won two Rock Rivalry cups. He was also a volunteer coach on the Junior High softball team for several seasons.

“Sol had a great influence on my children,” said ERHS coach Joe Lores. “He was a terrific teacher, and an even better person.”

“We are all devastated by his death, but so grateful that he was not in pain and that he left us so peacefully,” Yousha’s wife, Eileen, wrote on an online blog the day that he died, Oct. 9. “I am eternally grateful to all of you for the outpouring of love and support these last awful months. It gave both Sol and I so much comfort and he was always so delighted to see everyone who came to visit or called.” Yousha has two daughters, Rachael and Calie.

From ‘nowhere to happiness’

In “You can travel on nothing from nowhere to happiness,” a piece that was published in the East Rockaway High School newspaper in January of 2012, Yousha wrote about the bio-chemistry of and power of pos

itive thinking.

“You see, your thoughts may have a direct impact on your life. Thoughts that you think regularly, what you focus on, those thoughts that repeatedly run through your head become your inner mantra. It is these beliefs that your subconscious mind picks up on and sees as instructions. Your subconscious then follows these instructions and creates your life based on the faith inside of you that you hold close to heart and mind. So if you’re not happy with your life, if things aren’t going the way you want, then simply track your thoughts and uncover your faith in your beliefs.” It was signed, “The Soulman.”

A funeral was held on Oct. 12 at the Oceanside Jewish Center, where Yousha was an active member. Donations can be made to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center or Hazon.org (Jewish inspiration and sustainable communities.)

In addition Camp Ramah Nyack has set up a cause for donations in Sol’s name, the “Makom Shlomo.” A permanent sukkah that will be built in Yousha’s name.