DR. WILLIAM STANLEY POLLARD

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DR. WILLIAM STANLEY POLLARD Dr. William Stanley Pollard died Friday, September 5, 2003 in a comfortable manner at The Wellstead of Rogers, Minnesota. He was born May 15, 1925 in Winnipeg. He is preceded in death by parents Fleta (Banghart) and Reuben Pollard; brothers, James (Ruth) and Alan (Shirley) Pollard; and daughter Robin Pollard. Dr. Pollard was a gifted neurosurgeon, a lifelong career both challenging and rewarding. He matriculated at the University of Manitoba at Winnipeg in 1944, completing a doctoral degree in general practice medicine in 1948. In 1949 he was honoured with a Masters of Science from the University of Minnesota at Minneapolis with a thesis relative to the formation of tumours on the optic nerves. A residency appointment in neurological studies at the Montreal Neurological Institute followed. From 1949-1953 he practiced general medicine in Maddock, ND, where he delivered some 300 newborns. He also served as the Vincent County Health Office. In 1954 he began studying neurological surgery at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, and served as Chief Resident of Neurosurgery from 1956-1957. In 1957 he was awarded a Masters of Science in Neurosurgery. He was accepted to the Fellowship American College of Surgeons in June 1959 and awarded Board Certification by the American Board of Neurological Surgery that same year. Having relocated to Duluth, MN, in 1957, Dr. Pollard commissioned the construction of the Waverly Medical Building (present day Family Practice Centre) at 8th Avenue East and 4th Street where he began private practice with Drs. Nisswandt and Bulluck. Soon after he established a sole private practice in the Medical Arts Building. He held staff privileges as St. Lukes, St. Marys, and Miller-Dwan hospitals throughout his entire career. He also served as a neurological surgeon in outlying communities of St. Louis and Lake Counties that lacked specialty-trained physicians who could attend to their populations. The majority of his patients, however, were operated on and compassionately cared for at St. Lukes Hospital. Dr. Pollard served on various committees within each of the local hospitals including infectious disease control and the tissue committee. In the later years of his practice, Dr. Pollard participated in a great deal of medical-legal work and enjoyed the opportunity to make courtroom appearances and offer expert testimony. Dr. Pollard loved academia, believing that knowledge was the finest gift one could give himself or another. When the UMD Medical School opening in 1973, Dr. Pollard was appointed a lecturer in Neurology and Neurosurgery. He annually continued his medical education at different national conferences for brain and spinal cord injuries and conditions. In an era lacking CAT scans, MRIs, and the conveniences of modern technologies, Dr. Pollard was a true pioneer in the field of neurosurgery. His favourite and most noted surgical technique was the anterior cervical approach in which the exterior incision was shortened and masked within a patients existing crease of skin, thereby reducing the appearance of scarring. Dr. Pollard was also well known for his philanthropic generosity. He was an active member of the WDSE Channel 8 Board; a supporter of the Depot Foundation; a volunteer and supporter of both Congdon Park Elementary School and the Marshall School in their fundraising efforts; an Aad Temple bagpiper; a member of the Scottish Rite and Free Masons; a member of the American Medical Association; MN Medical Association; and the Lake Superior Medical Society; a consultant to the Minnesota League Against Epilepsy; a member of the Duluth-Superior Operatic Chorus; and a volunteer for the Old Schoolhouse Theatre of Sanibel Island, FL. Dr. Pollards career afforded him many travel opportunities both nationally and internationally. He participated in many medical exchanges with the "People-to People" program throughout Europe, Russia, China, and Malaysia. In addition to travel and cultural experiences, Dr. Pollard enjoyed spending his free time reading, gardening, wood-working, bird-watching, piloting his own plane, tinkering with tools in his barn, playing with his dogs, seeking out garage sales, and cultivating solace in the peace and quiet of his beloved Boulder Lake home. Dr. Pollards greatest love and most proud accomplishment was his family. His surviving family members are his loving wife Trinky (Greenhoe), ten children, five grandchildren, and one great-grandchild. His living children are: Linda (Paul) Nelson, Heather Pollard, Herbert (Andi) Pollard, William (Janet) Pollard, Laurel (Frank) Davis, Claudia Pollard, Christopher Pollard, Timothy Pollard, David (Erin) Pollard, and Carrie Pollard. He is also survived by a "daughter of his heart", Penny (Cooke) Linn who was a nanny to his children, a nurse in his office, and lifelong friend. The Pollard family is very grateful for the loving kindness and dignified care that their husband and father received in his year of life at The Wellstead of Rogers, MN. No amount of thanks could ever suffice for the hours of patience, humour, comfort, and love that the staff members there bestowed upon him. Our family is truly and eternally grated for the positive experience he had in living there. He was given a new lease on life and an opportunity to live out his days actively, surrounding by people who knew he still had more humour and wisdom to share. Their lives are better by having loved and cared for him, and our lives are better by having had them to love and comfort him. The Pollard family prefers that memorials in Dr. Pollards honour be addressed to either the Marshall School for a scholarship fund, or to St. Lukes Foundation. Visitation will be from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Tuesday in the Doughtery Funeral Home and also from 2:00 p.m. until the 3:00 p.m. service Wednesday in St. Pauls Episcopal Church. Burial will be in St. Pauls Church. Arrangements by Dougherty Funeral Home.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Sep 07, 2003