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Gerald Harris Pollak

Gerald Harris “Gerry” Pollak of Madison, died Nov. 21 at home surrounded by his family after a long battle with cancer. He was 67, a beloved son, nephew, father, husband, and friend. Gerry was the son of Gerald and Marian (Harris) Pollak. With his father’s untimely and sudden passing, his mother single-handedly raised Gerry and his older brother Jeff in Spuyten Duyvil (Bronx), New York. To know Gerry was to love him; and he has kept in touch with friends from everywhere he lived or worked, including childhood friends from the Knolls.

Gerry’s mother died when he was 13. He and his brother were blessed to be taken in by his paternal uncle Kenneth Pollak, who continued raising the two boys and got them through college and graduate school. Gerry received his bachelor’s from SUNY Plattsburg, a master’s degree from the University of South Carolina, and his MSW from Southern Connecticut State University.

Gerry had a career change in his 50s, and found his calling as an adolescent psychotherapist, “the kid whisperer,” as his colleagues at The Joshua Center in Old Saybrook called him. He was passionate about helping troubled children.

A lifelong musician classically trained in piano, Gerry played guitar and harmonica and was a singer-songwriter. In his younger days, he lived in LA and Nashville, for a few years pursuing his music. For the past decade, he played keyboards and sang in the band, Take Two and Call Me in the Morning.

Gerry volunteered at Habitat for Humanity, the VA in West Haven, and local soup kitchens. He was passionate about politics and campaigning door-to-door for Barack Obama. He was a beloved and cherished member of Al-Anon. Gerry shared his love of life, and his musical talent with many members at the Unitarian Society of New Haven.

Gerry is survived by his wife Valerie Leeds; his son Brian and daughter-in-law Christina; his beloved uncle Ken; his brother Jeff and wife Carol; and his nephew Tyler.

We would like to give special thanks to all the caring and compassionate healthcare professionals at Smilow Cancer Center, especially doctors, Jeremy Kortmansky and Alex Choi and their teams. We also are grateful for the care given by CT Hospice, especially Lynn Waters.

A Wake will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3, at the Hawley Lincoln Memorial Funeral Home, 1315 Boston Post Road, Guilford. In addition, a Celebration of Life ceremony will be held in the summer of 2023.