Solomon Choi’s loved ones say he was someone who lived life to the fullest.
The founder of the popular frozen yogurt chain 16 Handles died on June 7 at the age of 44. The cause of death was not given.
His friend Pedram Hendizadeh, who spoke at Choi’s funeral, tells PEOPLE that Choi was the epitome of success and will. The entrepreneur, born in Seoul, South Korea, attended the Marshall School of Business at the University of Southern California. After growing 16 Handles, Choi sold the company during Pandemic 2022. Most recently, he was CEO of Jabba Brands.
“He left California to come to New York and said, ‘If I can do it there, I can do it anywhere.’ It’s just like a song. And it really started with nothing and it grew out of nothing,” says Hendizadeh, a podiatric surgeon in New York.
Solomon Choi.
Solomon Choi/ Instagram
Hendizadeh met Choi in 2015 at a meeting of an entrepreneurs’ organization.
“I was talking [at] five or six forums and as soon as I met Solomon, I said, ‘I want to be on his forum,’ he says. “He just had incredible vision, incredible energy, high goals and great advice, and he just made time for friends.”
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Along with a strong business mindset, Choi was a family man, Hendizadeh says. Choi is survived by his wife Hannah Chang-Choi, their children Jubilee, 7, and Joshua, 4, his parents and two sisters. Hendizadeh says the love in the room at the funeral was overwhelming and palpable, “overwhelming” with hundreds of attendees.
“The pastor spoke beautifully, and the theme of the funeral was: ‘Tomorrow is not promised to you. Enjoy life today’, he shares.
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Pedram Hendizadeh and Solomon Choi.
Pedram Hendizadeh
Mindful timing has been paramount to Choi’s success and happiness, his friend says.
“Even when we had lunch, we’d meet at 12:30 for lunch, by 2 he’s like, ‘I’ve got to go.’ I ask myself: ‘Wait, where are you going?’ He says, Well, I’m sorry. I have to go get my son,’ he says. “He would always take his time and that’s what I learned the most — that life is short and his death is proof of that.”
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“He was on this earth for a short time and he made the most of it,” adds Hendizadeh. “He did more in 44 years than five people in their lifetime. He was very punctual, he was always careful about his time, but maybe he didn’t know that his time on this earth was short.”
Of Choi’s death, Hendizadeh says that “nobody predicted this” because he was “very healthy, very happy, very optimistic.” Despite Choi’s tragic death, Hendizadeh is very proud of his late friend — and says the young entrepreneur was proud of his own accomplishments as well.
“We’re all very, very upset, but whoever spent time with him was a happy individual,” Hendizadeh says, “and I can tell you that I’m very, very proud and happy that he was my friend.”
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Source: HIS Education