Friends mourn former teacher

Highlighting the life of Mary Pollard

By: Emily Holody
   Mary Pollard touched many people during her life, and former students, colleagues and friends will miss her passion for education and community service.
   Ms. Pollard, of Kendall Park, taught in the South Brunswick School District for more than 26 years. She initially taught at St. Augustine of Canterbury’s. She then taught at Crossroads, and spent the last decades of her career teaching at Brunswick Acres from the year it opened until her retirement in 1996.
   For 17 of those years, Mary Pat Axelrod was a paraprofessional in Ms. Pollard’s sixth-grade classroom. She witnessed Ms. Pollard’s abilities as a teacher and her commitment to education.
   "She was a risk-taker, as far as previewing (computer) programs for the class," said Ms. Axelrod on Monday. "She really brought a lot of technology into the classroom."
   In the late 1980s, Ms. Pollard attended a number of workshops about computers and computer programs, said Ms. Axelrod.
   "She was on the bottom floor getting all this technology for her students. Other teachers caught on and they wanted her to teach them. I think both of us felt we were pioneers in this field," said Ms. Axelrod.
   In addition to being a technology "pioneer" for Brunswick Acres school, Ms. Pollard was instrumental in getting family math and science into the school, said Ms. Axelrod.
   At a time where there was a stigma attached to girls’ abilities in math and science, Ms. Pollard worked toward educating her female students through fun exercises, such as learning the science behind making ice cream, said Ms. Axelrod.
   Her main goal, said Ms. Axelrod, was to get the family involved in girls’ math and science education. She felt the support of the family would encourage students to continue studying these subjects and to have confidence in their abilities.
   "She was a big believer that the more the family knew about the education of their children, the more they would participate," said Ms. Axelrod.
   Even after decades, former students of Ms. Pollard’s are still affected by what she taught them in the classroom.
   "Ms. Pollard very clearly demonstrated to me and my classmates that meeting minimum requirements was easily attainable and that excellence should always be one’s goal," said Cmdr. Jeffrey Trent of the U.S. Navy in a recent e-mail, a former student who said he was in Ms. Pollard’s sixth-grade class nearly 32 years ago.
   He said Ms. Pollard enhanced the quality of his life, and taught him to pursue perfection.
   "Ms. Pollard’s demanding yet flexible teaching style taught me that the pursuit of perfection is paramount, and if we maintain the highest standards and accept nothing short of our best, we will be successful," Cmdr. Trent wrote.
   Brunswick Acres Principal Joseph Anzek agreed.
   "She would feign exasperation when a student had a times table or spelling lapse. While the student would be amused by the exasperation, he would also take the hint and try harder," said Mr. Anzek.
   He praised her "dry and clever humor," and said she would go out of her way to help younger colleagues, "including new principals" such as he was at one time.
   "She was a skilled and diligent instructor," said Mr. Anzek.
   Ms. Pollard was a member of the South Brunswick Education Association and the National Education Association, serving as a representative and on the executive board. She was also an active member of the South Brunswick Women’s Club, served on the Juvenile Conference Committee, and served on the South Brunswick Board of Welfare.
   Her commitment to community service was apparent throughout her life.
   "What motivated her was the importance of community service. She really loved where she lived," said Ms. Axelrod.
   Ms. Pollard also sought to involve her students in community service. Ms. Axelrod said that during the holiday season, Ms. Pollard would bring in 40 dolls to donate to the Red Cross. She handed these out to students during lunchtime and said, "We have to get all these dolls dressed by the 17 of December."
   "A lot of girls learned how to knit through Mary (for these projects)," said Ms. Axelrod. "It brought the kids closer (to her)."
   Ms. Pollard is survived by her husband of 51 years, Richard, and her children: Susan Hahn and her husband, Richard, of West Chester, Pa.; Melissa Pollard of Plainsboro; Daniel and his wife, Heidi, of Oceanport; Sarah Alexander and her husband, David, of Riverdale, N.Y.; and Stephen and his wife, Wendy, of Madison, Conn. She also leaves behind 10 grandchildren: Daniel, Caitlin, and Erin Hahn; John Mastria; Daniel Jr., and Andrew Pollard; Emma, Maggie, and Hallie Pollard; and Ava Grace Alexander.
   Ms. Pollard was a breast cancer survivor for more than 26 years. The family asks that donations be made to the American Cancer Society Central N.J. Region, 2600 Route 1, North Brunswick, N.J. 08902, or the Alzheimer’s Association, 12 Roszel Road, Princeton, N.J. 08540.