Nahant political figure Solimine recalled as ‘one great lady’

NAHANT – Jayne Solimine, known for her decades of service in Nahant, most notably as chairman of the Nahant Republican Town Committee, died Saturday at Union Hospital. She was 87.”She was just one great lady,” said Rich Lombard, vice chairman of the Nahant Board of Selectmen. “She told it like it was. She was always for the town of Nahant and she voted that way. She had great ideas and great foresight, and she was a good friend. She was a friend to everyone.”Lombard served on the board with Solimine during her two terms on the board, beginning in 1983, when she was elected the first female selectman since 1929. Lombard said he remembered her as being instrumental in the beautification of the town as well as her advocacy for Tudor Wharf and local lobstermen.”She had great presence and she brought much to the board,” said Lombard. “She was very smart, her financial credentials were fantastic, and she knew the bylaws inside and out. It was just a pleasure to serve with her. She was an outstanding citizen for her time and effort. I’m going to miss her, she was a super person.”She also served nine years on the School Committee and was a delegate to the 1972 Republican National Convention representing the 6th Congressional District.In a 2008 interview with The Daily Item, she said she believed it was government, not politics, that drew her to the job.”She thought carefully about all the options of what the town could do,” said Chairman Michael Manning, who served on the Finance Committee during Solimine’s time on the board. “She always had a very reasoned explainable position to talk on how she thought things should happen.”David Solimine Sr., who said he had known Jayne Solimine since she started dating his older brother at 16, called his sister-in-law “a Nahanter through and through.” He said even at their early age, he knew she was meant for public service.”She chose to stay local, and I think it was a good decision for her. She was good for the community at large,” he said. “She was an in-control person. She knew it had to be done, and if it needed to be done she was there to do it.”On a personal level, David Solimine Sr. said, “Jayne was a special part of my life,” he said. “She was a delightful person. Very capable and very caring. If I ran into a tough word and didn’t know the meaning I could call on my big sister-in-law and she would fill me in. If I was seeking advice on many things in my personal world, she was always there for me.”He said Jayne Solimine died a very peaceful and natural death on Saturday, surrounded by family and friends.Kait Taylor can be reached at [email protected].