LOUIS DAVID POLLAY
(April 9, 1930 – October 28, 2017)
A LIFE OF LOVE, LAUGHTER, SINGING, AND STRENGTH
Louis David Pollay passed away on October 28, 2017, at the age of 87. A memorial for family and friends was held in Lou’s memory on October 30. His passing followed complications of Alzheimer’s disease. He would have turned 88 on April 9.
Born in Lynn, Massachusetts on April 9, 1930, Lou is survived by his wife of 53 years, Jerriann Trask Pollay; his son David J. Pollay, his wife Dawn Gano Pollay, and their two daughters, Eliana and Ariela, all of Delray Beach, Florida; and his son Michael W. Pollay of Madison, Wisconsin. Lou is also survived by seven nieces and nephews: Susan, Jonathan, Deborah, Tamara, Melanie, Tommy and Jimmy.
Lou graduated from Whitefish Bay High School in Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin. Following one year spent at the University of Wisconsin, Lou enlisted in the United States Army. He completed his basic training at Fort Riley, Kansas and was stationed at Fort Lewis, Washington. Just a couple years later he was recalled to serve in the Korean War.
Following his service in the US Army, he finished his college education and graduated from the University of Southern California with a communications degree. It was at USC that he became an actor and played the leading role in the award-winning short film, An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge.
After a story-filled, short-lived attempt at becoming a Hollywood actor, he turned his passion to singing. Seven years later it was at a rehearsal of a production of Kiss Me Kate in New York City, that he met his wife, Jerriann Trask.
Lou loved to tell the story about the time he dropped Jerriann off at her apartment in New York City after their second date. As he was saying good night, she invited him to the Broadway premiere of Too True to Be Good. Lou said yes and was so excited that he flew down three flights of stairs in two steps. Lou and Jerriann were married less than six months later in New York City. Lou adored Jerriann. His boys saw how much he loved their mother, and how much she loved their father. Lou was her rock of strength in every way. They signed their daily notes to each other, “Forever and a Day.” Jerriann said that they never lost that heart-fluttering feeling each time they would see each other unexpectedly come into view. David was born in 1965 and Michael was born in 1969.
Lou would do anything to help his family. No matter how busy Lou was in any aspect of his life, he always made time for his boys. He attended all of David and Michael’s school events, and he particularly enjoyed David’s football games and Mike’s swimming meets. He was a wonderful father. Lou loved his boys.
As a grandfather, he was just as involved, interested, and loving with his granddaughters, Eliana and Ariela, as he was with his boys. Lou proudly attended every one of their events. He was a constant, loving, and generous presence in their lives.
Lou was known to many as “Big Lou” because of his big heart, because he always stood up for what he thought was right, and because he was nearly 6’3” tall. Lou was known as a great guy to everyone who knew him. He loved hearing a good story or joke, and he loved telling both. Lou was a hard worker, persistent, resilient, and he did whatever was necessary to take care of his family, friends, neighbors and customers.
Many stories about Big Lou are captured in David’s two best-selling books, The Law of the Garbage Truck ® and The 3 Promises®.
Lou and Jerriann formed their singing act in 1972 and The POLLAYS became the most popular club date act in the Midwest, and they sang throughout the country for nearly 25 years. They were best known for singing Broadway standards, songs from the American songbook, and arias from their favorite operas.
Lou particularly enjoyed singing when they were accompanied by large orchestras in packed theatres and ballrooms, and when they were on the same bill with some of the world’s most famous comedians. Lou would always say you could hear a pin drop when they sang “Danny Boy” a cappella and without microphones. Lou credited Jerriann for making it possible for him to fulfill his dream of becoming a successful professional singer.
Lou was the owner of National Household Distributors, Inc. of Wisconsin, a small, family-run department store in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He was proud of the outstanding customer service he provided to all of his customers, and for being an involved and contributing member of the community where his business was located. Both David and Michael learned important life lessons working for their father during their summer vacations. Lou was forever grateful for the role Jerriann played keeping the financial books for National Household and for helping him in myriad ways.
Lou was a natural, skilled, and accomplished athlete. He set the conference shot put record the year he attended the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee. Lou played AAA softball as a catcher for Schlitz Brewing Company in Milwaukee. He was offered a scholarship to play wide receiver at Carroll College in Wisconsin before the Army called him back to serve in the Korean War.
One of his most proud athletic accomplishments came during his service in the Army when he played center on the basketball team that won the Second Infantry Division Artillery Championship.
Proud of his love for athletic competition and his lifetime commitment to staying in shape, Lou achieved a national ranking in Master’s swimming, shot put, and race-walking throughout his seventies. Lou competed until shortly before his 81st birthday.
Lou loved to keep active and busy throughout his life, and that remained true in retirement. Shortly after moving to Florida, he was elected president of the Eastwinds and Crosswinds homeowner’s association where Lou and Jerriann lived.
In addition to his athletic endeavors, Lou volunteered with the National Jewish War Veterans, spending much of his time helping veterans at the VA Hospital in West Palm Beach. He also volunteered for a number of years at the Delray Medical Center in Delray Beach. He stopped volunteering only at the point when Alzheimer’s disease began to interfere with his ability to find his way around the hospital’s maze of rooms and hallways.
Lou lived a full life in retirement. There were many highlights. On his 80th birthday his family arranged for him to co-pilot a Boeing 1941 PT-17 Stearman biplane with his whole family cheering him on.
During a surprise trip to Paris organized by David and Dawn to celebrate Jerriann’s 75th birthday, Lou and Jerriann visited the World War II memorial in Normandy. Lou said that the visit to Normandy was the highlight of the Paris trip for him. As a veteran of the military, Lou was deeply moved to stand on the same ground where brave soldiers gave their lives to preserve our freedom.
When visiting Venice on a Mediterranean cruise, Lou had one of the thrills of his life: David’s family arranged for him to sing his favorite Italian love song, O’ Sole Mio, in a gondola surrounded by his family. Singing in full voice as they traversed the canals of Venice, people were clapping for Lou as he passed by. There was no mistaking his passion and joy as he belted out that famous Italian song.
Big Lou was a wonderful, loving husband, father, grandfather, friend and neighbor. He is deeply missed. Thankfully, Big Lou Pollay’s spirit of love, laughter, strength, and singing is with us every day.
