DOUGLAS ARTHUR POLLARD (published on January 16, 2010)
| DOUGLAS ARTHUR POLLARD 1924 - 2010 Douglas Arthur Pollard died peacefully at Victoria Hospital, Winnipeg, on January 13, 2010. Doug was born March 9, 1924 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. He grew up in Winnipeg, on Cordova Street, and went to school at Robert H. Smith and High School at Kelvin. He went on to attain a Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Manitoba. Doug spent a year or so living in Mexico following his university graduation, teaching English for a living, and learning to speak fluent Spanish. When he returned to Winnipeg he got a job with the Winnipeg Free Press, working as a journalist, a job he loved and excelled at doing. In the late 1940's he decided to go overseas and lived in England for several years, working as a journalist, a teacher, a shopkeeper, and various other jobs. While in Britain he met Emily (Lee) Maud Reece, and they were married on September 23, 1950 in Brighstone, Isle of Wight, England. Their first son, David, was born in Leicester, England. In 1952, Doug and Lee decided to return to Canada, where Doug felt he could make a better living and thus support his growing family. They moved back to Winnipeg where their second son, Alan, was born in 1955 very shortly after they had moved into their new home on Niagara Street. Doug went to work in sales for the family printing company, Saults Pollard. He was very successful as a salesman, being a naturally gregarious person with a genuine interest in the lives of his customers. In addition to working for the family business and being a very involved father, Doug was also very active with the organization of a Winnipeg branch of Junior Achievement, which works to foster business and entrepreneurial skills in high school students. Doug was a founding member in Winnipeg and was later presented with a special award for his work in establishing this program in the city. Doug was also an active volunteer with many other causes over the years, including the Junior Chamber of Commerce, United Way, the Liberal Party of Manitoba, and Meals on Wheels. He was a regular blood donor for many years, making over 75 donations. In 1987 Doug lost his wife Lee to pancreatic cancer. He was very lonely without her until he met Anne King, a friend of his twin brother's family, in 1989. Anne and Doug were married in 1990. They also both retired from their jobs that year, which left them time for travel in Canada, the United States and Europe, regular attendance at the theatre, opera and symphony performances, and for active involvement with the Navy League, of which Anne was a member as a veteran of the Navy from the Second World War. Everyone who knew Doug described him as a real gentleman . He was a most loving and devoted husband and a caring and involved father, but beyond that Doug was always genuinely interested in people everyone he met. Doug never cared about a person's income level, their colour or gender or status. He always wanted to know what they cared about and what they knew and his real interest shone through. People invariably responded to it and he made friends wherever he went, all through his life. His kindness, humour and generosity were unfailing. Doug is predeceased by his parents, his twin brother Earle, and his first wife, Lee. He is survived by his wife Anne; his brother Lawrie (Fran) of Winnipeg; his son Dave (Anita Matthews) of Caledon, Ontario; his son Alan (Morva Bowman) of Winnipeg, grandson Rhys Pollard of Winnipeg; grandson Christian Matthews (Jana), granddaughter Tiffany Topolinsky (Darrell) and great-granddaughters Romana and Cassandra Matthews, of Georgetown and Milton, Ontario, as well as numerous nieces and nephews and their families. His family would like to thank Dr. Ray Singer and the staff of the 4th floor Family Medicine unit at Victoria Hospital for their care and compassion during the last months of Doug's life. Cremation has taken place. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, January 30, at 1:00 p.m. at Neil Bardal Inc., 3030 Notre Dame Avenue (across from Brookside Cemetery). In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Wilbur and Aleta Pollard Memorial Fund of the Winnipeg Foundation, or to a charity of your choice. NEIL BARDAL INC (204) 949 2200 nbardal.mb.ca |
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