Sol Kellerman dies aged 100

Sol Kellerman, the founder of the Knights of the Central Coast, passed away on July 24 just five days after his 100th birthday.

Mr Kellerman, a Central Coast resident since 1969, had become an institution on the Peninsula raising an estimated $3.5 million in his lifetime for Central Coast charities.

Mr Kellerman was a strong supporter of aged care and was crucial to the establishment of the Peninsula Village retirement home.

He was also a big contributor to the Ocean Beach and Umina Surf Life Saving Clubs, with a surfboat "Sol" named after him for his charitable works.

Many Peninsula residents would remember Sol who produced the majority of his charity funds through selling raffle tickets for prizes he bought himself around the Peninsula.

Born in 1904 in New Zealand, Sol was the second eldest of five children.

At age three, his family moved to Australia and by the time he was 13, he had left school to become an apprentice watchmaker.

His mother soon after passed away and Sol was left to help raise his youngest sister and put his brothers through school, and many years later went on to run his own watchmaking business.

During World War Two, Mr Kellerman, who could only hear with hearing aids, convinced an officer to allow him to join the army, where he became a staff sargeant.

He also helped the army build binoculars for army use.

Not to long after, he married his wife Thelma, 10 years his junior, and in 1940 they had one daughter, Sonya.

In his life Mr Kellerman undertook up a plethora of charitable works.

They began in Sydney where he was a founding member and vice-president of the Sydney Police Boys Club, founding member of the Paddington Police Boys Club, member of Kings Cross Lions Club and one of the first "Mr Smiths" in Sydney for the Smith family.

In 1969, Mr Kellerman moved his family to the Central Coast where he saw a growing need in a number of local organisations.

In 1970, The Salvation Army Meals on Wheels service was discontinued on the Peninsula. Both Thelma and Sol joined the 390 helpers who became involved to keep the service going.

They helped build and finance the current Meals on Wheels Centre, which still exists today.

In 1973 Sol also started the Brisbane Water Branch of the Old Bastards Society.

By 1974, concerned that his fundraising efforts were only going down to Sydney, Mr Kellerman started the Knights of the Central Coast.

It was through the fundraising efforts of this society - raffles and dinners - that Mr Kellerman helped finance Meals on Wheels and Peninsula Village.

In its first year alone, the Knights of the Central Coast raised over $10,000. They went on to top that year after year while, at the same time, Sol's achievements continued to mount.

In 1976, Mr Kellerman was awarded Apex Citizen of the Year,

In 1978, he was made Life Member of the Deaf, Dumb and Blind Society North Rocks,

in 1980, he was awarded an Order of Australia,

in 1983, the Humanitarian Medal and,

in 1984, the Lions International Lifetime Membership.

He was a patron of Meals on Wheels, Fairhaven Services, Umina Beach Nipperettes (Coral Maids) and Ocean Beach Nipperettes (Mermaids).

Mr Kellerman was most recently featured in local media last year for still having his drivers' license at age 99.

He kept that license until two months before his passing at which time the Knights of the Central Coast also ended.

His daughter Sonya Van De Rotte said that his charity activities, which included walking around the Peninsula selling raffle tickets for many years, were the reason for his long life.

"He never needed much sleep. He would be up at two or three in the morning and he would set goals for the day.

"There was no nine to five for him. He left everything done," she said.

"He served the community and found the time to do anything for anybody, but he always gave time to us as well as time and money to everyone else."

Ms Van De Rotte said that while her father was Jewish, he helped all denominations.

Thelma, Mr Kellerman's wife, passed away in 2002 aged 88. Sol nursed her until he was 91.

"She was his greatest admirer," Sonya said.

"He was a strong believer that a woman should never have to do a thing.

"He wouldn't even let her change a lightbulb.

"His philosophy was to 'Do unto others'. If we all did a little bit each day, it would make such a difference."

He lived to received letters from the Queen, Prime Minister and Governor General congratulating him on reaching age 100, and leaves behind one daughter, four granddaughters and one great grandson.

Mrs Van de Rotte said Sol was an exceptional man and his passing was a huge loss to the family and to the community.

Mr Kellerman passed away in Gosford Hospital on July 24 still a resident of the Peninsula Village, the nursing home he had helped start almost 30 years before.

Alison Branley and Lyle Stone August 30