Funeral Details

Dr. Carrie Soloway, also known to many of her patients as Dr. Harry James Soloway, and known to family and chosen family as Moppa, passed away on November 21, 2025, in Chicago, Illinois. Carrie was born in London, England, in 1937, to Bella and Morris Soloway. As a young child, she lived through the London Blitz, and the family narrowly survived the wartime bombings that reshaped their city and their lives. In 1953, seeking safety, stability, and new opportunities, the family immigrated to the United States and settled in Chicago, where Carrie attended Senn High School. After completing her medical training at the University of Illinois Chicago’s Navy Pier campus, Carrie served as an anesthesiologist in the United States Army at Fort Devens in Massachusetts from approximately 1963 to 1964. Carrie began her long psychiatric career upon returning to Chicago, where she became a highly regarded member of the staff at Mercy Hospital, Michael Reese Hospital, and Lakeshore Hospital. She also cared for a devoted panel of private patients for multiple decades, offering thoughtful, attentive, and deeply committed psychiatric care throughout her life. Carrie made her home in South Commons, where she was a long-time and beloved member of the community. She had a profound love of opera and delighted in singing — whether in lessons, at home, or onstage in the South Commons musical theater productions. Among her favorite roles, she starred as the Mikado and as the Captain in H.M.S. Pinafore. A lifelong, die-hard Chicago Cubs fan, Carrie followed the team with unwavering devotion. She also loved soccer and cheering with particular passion for the Queens Park Rangers. She was the inspiration for the character of Maura Pfeffermam “Moppa” in the award-winning television series Transparent. The character — a queer, idiosyncratic, deeply human parent — became a cultural touchstone, transforming conversations around gender, identity, and family. Carrie’s life and spirit helped shape a portrayal that resonated widely and contributed to a broader cultural shift in understanding and representation. She is survived by her children, Joey Soloway and Faith Soloway; her grandchildren — Isaac, Betsy, and Felix; her former spouse, writer Elaine Soloway; and her niece and nephew, David Jacobson and Gail Jacobson. She is also survived by many loving cousins, nieces, nephews, and extended family. Services Monday, 11AM at Chicago Jewish Funerals, 8851 Skokie Blvd. (at Niles Center Road), Skokie. Interment Waldheim Jewish Cemetery. Arrangements by Chicago Jewish Funerals - Skokie Chapel, 847.229.8822, www.cjfinfo.com