David Frank Pollard

1919 - 2018

FALMOUTH - David Frank Pollard, age 99, of Falmouth Maine, formerly of Millinocket, Bucksport and Orland, passed away on September 25, 2018 with family at his side, after having lived a full life.

David was born on January 3, 1919 and raised in Lynn MA, the son of Stanley I. and Anna (Berko) Pollard. He attended Lynn English High School where he was an accomplished student, athlete and Boy Scout. He matriculated to Tufts University, graduating Magna Cum Laude, Class of 1940, with a major in chemical engineering. At Tufts, Dave was recognized for his academic accomplishments as a member of the Tau Beta Pi engineering honor society; he was Captain of the track team and held long-standing school records in shot put and javelin. He was named “Most Typical Tufts Man” and the Jackson College co-eds voted him “Most Liked by Jackson Women”. During summers, Dave was a camper and waterfront counselor at William Lawrence Camp in Center Tuftonboro, NH.

Upon graduation from Tufts, Dave served his country stateside, as an employee of the DuPont Chemical Company. His responsibilities took him to Oak Ridge TN, Chicago, Salt Lake City and other sites in the country for duties that were never fully disclosed or discussed with his family. After WWII, Dave travelled throughout the western US, enjoying life as a single man, exploring the great outdoors and practicing photography. He eventually returned to New England and settled in Millinocket, Maine where he worked for Great Northern Paper Company. During his years in Millinocket, he explored Mount Katahdin (in all seasons) and acquired a deep love of the Maine wilderness. Dave briefly left GNP to work as a counselor and canoeing instructor at Camp O-At-Ka on Sebago Lake. While at O-At-Ka, Dave led a canoe trip for the “sister” Camp Fleur de Lis. It was on this trip that he met his future wife, Betty Ann Traynor. Although Betty was engaged to another man, he won her heart and they were married on Patriot’s Day, April 19, 1952

Dave returned with Betty to Millinocket where he resumed his responsibilities as chief engineer for GNP and where his five children would be born. It was in Millinocket where the family formed life-long friendships and solidified their love of the State of Maine. The family moved to Bucksport a year after the birth of their fifth child, where he became Resident Mill Manager at St. Regis Paper Company. They traded their Ambajejus Lake camp for a wooden-hulled sailboat, “Prowler”, the first of three boats on which he and Betty enjoyed years of sailing the coast of Maine and beyond.

His professional accomplishments were many and his dedication to his community culminated with the Ray H. Cross Community Service award from the Paper Industry Management Association (PIMA) in 1976. He was especially proud of his relationship with the mill’s workers, for whom there was deep and mutual respect.

Dave and Betty retired at their riverfront property in Orland, which became homeport for many gatherings and visits from grandchildren. Dave and Betty took several winter excursions from Maine, on their boats “Penobscot” and “Canopus” via the Intracoastal Waterway to Florida and the Bahamas. By mid-spring, they would travel north to Maine, where they would spend summers. It was around this time that Dave was inducted into the Cruising Club of America, an organization of sailors who have voyaged the oceans for adventure and recreation.

Dave was first a family man. His children remember his bedtime stories about Brownie, Painted Feather and Birdcall and his joyous rendition of the German poem Lorelei; stories of his experiences as a member of the Washington Senators baseball team (all untrue) and especially saying grace at every family meal. Dave was an ardent fan of the Boston Red Sox and he finally witnessed the Sox winning the World Series in 2004, 2007 and 2013. His BOSOX cap often spurred conversations with strangers and won him an occasional free offering.

Dave is predeceased by his parents, his brothers, Richard and Stanley, his sister, Mary and his beloved wife, Betty. He leaves his five children and their spouses, Stephen Eugene Pollard (Darlene), David Bain Pollard (Rita), Sarah Appleton Pollard Cowan (Tim), Mary, aka Polly, Chadwick Sewall (Arthur) and Samuel White Pollard (Jane) and his beloved grandchildren, in order of age, Becky, Tom, Abby, Jeremy, Cara, Seth, Emma, Helen, Dale, Anthony, Sally, Will and Morgan and great grandchildren, Madison, Cillian, Lauren, Pearse, Sophie, Benny, Marin and baby Andrew. They all come from “good stock” and there “isn’t a clunkah in the bunch.”

The family would like to thank the compassionate care provided to Dave by the many staff at Falmouth House at Oceanview as he aged in place and the comforting team from Compassus Hospice.

Friends and family are invited to share their memories and offer their condolences by visiting David’s online guestbook at www.jonesrichandbarnes.com

A celebration of Dave’s life will be held on Monday, October 8, 2018 at 11:00am at the Elm Street Congregational Church in Bucksport, Maine. In lieu of flowers, gifts in Dave’s memory may be made in honor of Dennen Week at Camp O-At-Ka, a special program which allows deserving boys the chance to experience the benefits of camp life. Memorial gifts may be sent to Camp O-At-Ka, 593 Sebago Road, Sebago, ME 04029. Arrangements are under the care and direction of Jones, Rich & Barnes Funeral Home, 199 Woodford St., Portland, Maine 04103. 775-3763.