Friend of Solomon Choi Remembers the 16 Handles Founder After His Unexpected Death: He Had 'Amazing Energy' (Exclusive)

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 at the age of 44 on June 7. A 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 drive. The Seoul, South Korea-born entrepreneur attended the University of Southern California Marshall School of Business. After growing 16 Handles, Choi sold the company during the pandemic in 2022. More recently he was the CEO of Jabba Brands.

“He left California to come to New York and he said, ‘If I can make it there, I can make it anywhere.’ It's just like the song. And he started really with nothing and he came from nothing,” says Hendizadeh, a podiatric surgeon in New York.

Hendizadeh met Choi in 2015 at an entrepreneurs organization meeting.  

“I interviewed [at] five or six forums and the minute I met Solomon, I said, ‘I want to be in his forum,’” he says. “He just had amazing vision, amazing energy, he had lofty goals and just great advice and just made time for friends.”

Along with his strong business mindset, Choi was a family man, says Hendizadeh. 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, “packed” with hundreds of attendees. 

“The pastor spoke beautifully and the theme of the funeral was, ‘Tomorrow's not promised to you. Enjoy life today,’” he shares.  

Spending his time carefully was paramount to Choi’s success and happiness, his friend says.

“Even when we had lunches, we would meet at 12:30 for lunch, by 2 he's like, ‘I got to go.’  I'm like, ‘Wait, where are you going?’ He's like, Well, I'm sorry. I got to go pick up my son,’” he says. “He would always allot a certain amount of time and that's what I learned the most — that life is short and his passing is a testament to that.”

“He had a short time on this earth and he made the best of it," Hendizadeh adds. "He did more in 44 years than five people do in a lifetime. He was very timely, he always watched his time, but perhaps he didn't know his time on this earth was short.”

Of Choi's death, Hendizadeh says “nobody saw this coming” as he was “very healthy, very happy, very upbeat.” Despite Choi’s tragic passing, Hendizadeh is very proud of his late friend — and he says the young entrepreneur was proud of his own accomplishments, too.  

“We're all very, very upset, but whoever spent time with him was a lucky individual," says Hendizadeh, "and I could tell you that I'm very, very proud and fortunate that he was a friend of mine."