Alice Cecilia Solantay

Alice Cecilia Solantay

May 9, 1958 – February 10, 2026

Alice Cecilia Solantay passed away peacefully at Riverview Medical Center in Red Bank, New Jersey, on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, after bravely battling cancer for several years. She was 67 years old. Born in Prince's Bay, Staten Island, New York, to the late Charles and Alice Kovach, Alice moved to New Jersey in 1963, where she spent most of her life, most recently residing in Tinton Falls.

A Life in Music

From the earliest age, Alice possessed an extraordinary gift. A true musical prodigy, she began performing at just three years old, demonstrating a rare ability to master multiple instruments and blessed with a voice of remarkable beauty. At five, she became the youngest performer to play trumpet at Convention Hall in Asbury Park, New Jersey. Her exceptional talent led to an audition for the Ted Mack Amateur Hour at age six, followed by an audition at the prestigious Juilliard School of Music in New York City when she was only nine.

Alice's musical journey took her to extraordinary places. She performed trombone at a sporting benefit alongside Yankees legend Phil Rizzuto, Rosie Greer, and other distinguished guests. As a member of local opera companies throughout New Jersey, she brought her powerful voice to leading roles in The Masked Ball, The Student Prince, The Marriage of Figaro, Die Fledermaus, Carmen, La Bohème, and Suor Angelica.

Her dedication to her craft led her to earn both a Bachelor of Arts and a Master's degree in Vocal Performance from Combs College of Music. She studied with renowned masters of the art: opera and Broadway baritone Richard Torigi, pianist and vocal instructor David Holkeboer, and professional singer and vocal teacher Alan Seale. She also participated in individual master classes with Metropolitan Opera soprano Margaret Harshaw, who was affiliated with the Curtis Institute of Music and the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University. Alice's unique gift of absolute pitch was so remarkable that she participated in a DNA music study at Columbia University that included cellist Yo-Yo Ma.

Alice's voice graced stages around the world. She sang at the Liszt Conservatory in Budapest and competed in the prestigious Belvedere Vocal Competition in Vienna. She performed at the Philadelphia Opera House while attending Rowan University and later auditioned for opera companies in New York City (Metropolitan Opera), Chicago (Lyric Opera), Virginia (Norfolk Harrison Opera), Dallas, and Houston (Grand Opera). In one of her career highlights, she performed for Luciano Pavarotti's voice teacher at the Beacon Theater in New York City. Several years ago, she experienced the great joy of singing with Glen Campbell during his concert in Atlantic City, NJ.

Throughout her illustrious forty-seven-year career, Alice served as Music Director, Professional Singer, Pianist, Organist, and Vocal and Piano Instructor. She conducted the Cantata I Stand in Awe with twenty-eight professional musicians from New York City and Southern New Jersey with seventeen singers from Rutgers University. She recorded and produced two vocal albums in Etna, Ohio, and had the honor of performing the National Anthem for the Jersey Shore BlueClaws Baseball Team in Lakewood, New Jersey. She accompanied the late Irish tenor John McNally and sang duets with several other renowned artists. She performed seasonal concerts with soloists, musicians, and artists for more than forty years, sharing her God-given talents with communities across New Jersey.

Beyond vocals, Alice's instrumental expertise included piano, organ, trumpet, baritone horn, and trombone. She took immense pride in her many students who went on to become professional singers and musicians themselves, her legacy living on through their careers.

A Renaissance Spirit

Alice's talents extended far beyond music. She was proficient in sewing, painting, gourmet cooking, floral designing, ceramics, interior decorating, and jewelry making. She had an exceptional gift for making others laugh and lived a truly selfless life, always putting others first. This selflessness was particularly evident during the eight years she lovingly cared for her brother Robert during his battle with glioblastoma.

Alice loved the talents of many performers, including Bette Davis, Jack Nicholson, Al Pacino, Luciano Pavarotti, Andrea Bocelli, Joan Sutherland, Glen Campbell, Elvis Presley, Vince Gill, Michael Crawford, Billy Joel, and Bing Crosby. She cherished her many beloved pets—Mozart, Sabrina, Bocelli, Lana, Sophia, Lexi, Andre, Boomer, Rose, and Jack—who gave her unconditional love in return.

A Devoted Heart

Those who knew Alice would agree that her greatest joy in life was being a daughter, sister, aunt, niece, cousin, and friend. She touched countless lives with her warmth, generosity, and remarkable spirit.

Alice was predeceased by her grandparents; her parents, Charles and Alice Kovach (Koenig); her sister Elise Bishop; her brothers Richard Kovach and Robert Kovach; her cousin Dean Millman; her brothers-in-law Charles Bishop and Peter Surdi; and several beloved aunts and uncles.

She is survived by her loving sister, Dr. Nancy L. Surdi; her sister-in -law Maureen Kovach; her aunt, Eloise Koenig; her nieces Caroline Kovach, Stephanie Kovach, Mackenzie Bishop, Toni Pezzullo, and Aria Kovach; her nephews Kenneth Bishop, Michael Bishop, Thomas Bishop, Ryan Bishop, Kenneth Bishop Jr., Chase Kovach, Mark Kovach, Aaron Kovach, Adam Kovach, Owen Kovach, and Michael Kovach; her cousins Lynne, Sandy, Lisa, Kristin, Arlene, Kenneth, Neil, David, John, Roger, and Jonathan; extended family Donna, Sharon, Richard, Michelle, and Lisa Corlew; and her many close and cherished friends.

Gratitude

On behalf of Alice and her family, heartfelt thanks are extended to the doctors, nurses, and staff at Memorial Sloan Kettering in Middletown, Dr. Marina Shcherba, and Dr. Elizabeth Jewell. Special gratitude to Dr. Donald Macdonald, Dr. Gregory Tiesi, Dr. David Dupree, Dr. Joseph Raevis, Dr. Hank Ashforth, Fr. Alfred Burke, Fr. Anthony Michalik, and the Damiano Family & Staff.

Nancy, Alice's very proud and loving sister, will especially feel this loss. She had the greatest fortune to witness, share, and participate in Alice's many accomplishments, even most recently when Alice played the piano after receiving one of her final treatments at MSK. Alice's spirit will live on in all whose lives she touched. She is now in the loving arms of Jesus, joining her voice with the heavenly choir of angels.

Rest in peace, dear Alice, devoted servant of God, until we meet again in the glory of everlasting life.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, February 18, 2026 from 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM at the Damiano Funeral Home in Long Branch. Funeral Thursday at the funeral home with a visitation from 10:00 AM until the time of Mass at 11:00 AM. Interment will follow at Fairview Cemetery in Middletown.

A Memorial Mass will be scheduled and announced at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Alice's name to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis TN 38105 Web: http://www.stjude.org/ or Monmouth County SPCA, 260 Wall Street, Eatontown NJ 07724 Web: https://monmouthcountyspca.org/. The family invites you to leave a note of condolence by selecting the tribute/guestbook link.

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