Dr. Alan Pollack Obituary, A Heart-felt Farewell to Dr. Alan Jay Pollack
On January 21, 2024, the world lost a remarkable individual, Dr. Alan Jay Pollack, MD., who peacefully passed away at the age of 87 after battling pancreatic cancer. This article pays tribute to the life and legacy of a man whose contributions extended far beyond the field of psychiatry.
Early Life and Education
Alan Jay Pollack was born in Brooklyn, New York, to Morris and Tibe Pollack. His journey into the medical field began with three years of pre-med at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, NY. In 1961, he graduated from Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, NY, marking the beginning of a lifelong commitment to healing and understanding the human mind. Following medical school, Dr. Pollack interned at the VA Hospital in Westwood, CA, before completing a three-year psychiatric residency at UCLA. During the Vietnam War, he served as a naval officer and was in charge of the Psychiatric ward on Guam. It was during this time that his daughter Jenny was born in 1965. After returning to California, the family grew with the birth of twins, Adam and Alison, in 1967. For 28 years, Alan Pollack dedicated his professional life to various Kaiser Permanente locations, serving as the Chief of Psychiatry for 17 of those years in Woodland Hills. His commitment to mental health and well-being made a lasting impact on the communities he served.
Beyond Psychiatry: A Man of Many Hobbies
Alan Pollack was not just a skilled psychiatrist; he was a man of diverse talents and passions. His creative hobbies included photography, playing the guitar, calligraphy, and raising Bonsai trees. He also found joy in folk dancing, reflecting his appreciation for the arts. A proud atheist, Alan Pollack believed in the interconnectedness of all things and considered it his duty to be a good steward of the earth. After retiring in 1995, he became deeply involved with Habitat for Humanity and the Audubon Society, showcasing his dedication to wildlife rescue and rehabilitation. Post-retirement, Dr. Pollack embraced a new mission: restoring habitat one yard at a time. As a Wildlife Habitat Steward, he generously offered free consultations and landscape design to those interested in creating gardens that attracted wildlife. His passion for preserving the natural world extended to lectures, articles, and tours promoting the cause.
A Master of Woodworking
Beyond his professional and environmental pursuits, Alan Pollack was a master of woodworking. He crafted beautiful pieces of furniture for friends and family and annually carved a Welsh ‘love spoon’ for his wife Patti on their wedding anniversary. His intricate model ships and Victorian doll houses, donated to hospitals and shelters, showcased his dedication to craftsmanship. Alan Pollack’s legacy lives on through the love and memories shared by his surviving family: his wife Patti Pollack, children Jenny and Adam Pollack, three grandchildren, and his beloved rescue dog, Finnian. Though he is physically gone, his presence is felt daily as nature continues to flourish in the garden he cultivated with care. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to any charity working towards the protection of the earth. Dr. Alan Jay Pollack’s life serves as a reminder of the profound impact one individual can have, not only in their professional field but also in shaping a better world for future generations.
