William Appleby “Bill” Pollard, the beloved husband of Jeannette Jones Pollard, died peacefully on Dec. 22, 2023, his 96th birthday, at his home in Essex, with a daughter and dog at his side. Born in 1927 in Wellesley, Massachusetts, Bill was the eldest son of Mr. Albert Ashworth Pollard and Mrs. Edith Appleby Pollard. He graduated from Phillips Academy in 1946 and from Brown University with a bachelor’s degree in economics in 1950. In May of 1951, he married his beloved wife, the late Jeannette Jones Pollard.

Bill’s career was largely in the insurance industry. For 25 years, he worked at the Reliance Group of Insurance Companies where he became chairman and CEO. He was a past director of the Provident of Mutual Life Insurance Company and the Philadelphia Savings Fund Society, a member of the Brown University Corporation, trustee of the Princeton Theological Seminary, and president of the National Recreation Foundation.

After retiring at age 54, Bill focused much of his attention to Brown. He was devoted to athletics, having served many terms on the President’s Council of Athletics and the Board of Directors of the Brown University Sports Foundation. As an active member of the Brown Football Association, he especially enjoyed being a mentor to dozens of young players. For decades, he attended as many Brown football games as he could and was often seen in the bleachers in his raccoon coat, enthusiastically cheering Brown on. Somewhat seriously, he joked that he only wanted his portrait hung at the Pollard Family Rink if Brown would win consistently in hockey! Always optimistic, his spirit seldom wavered, and his relentless determination was contagious. Bill was particularly proud to help direct funds towards outdoor athletic school facilities for youth programs in Providence.

In 1986, Jeannette and Bill moved to Middle Cove in Essex, where they enjoyed gardening, golf, and boating. They retired at Essex Meadows in 2007, where Bill served on the Scholarship and Finance Committees. Bill and Jeannette were former members of the Old Lyme Country Club, Black Hall Club, Old Lyme Beach Club, Essex Yacht Club, and Essex Corinthian Yacht Club. Prior to moving to Essex, Jeannette and Bill settled in Devon, Pennsylvania, where they raised their four girls. Many of their summers were spent sailing on the Chesapeake and winters in Vail, Colorado, where Bill skied continuously well into his eighties. Their adventurous spirits took them to the far reaches of the world, visiting nearly every exotic country, some multiple times. Music was a constant in their lives, and they often hired local bands. Reading about business and global issues was integral to Bill’s life ever since he was a young boy, and he won a Time Magazine prize for current events at The Fessenden School. Up until his final days, nearly every morning, Bill could be found in his office under a magnifying machine concentrating on reading the New York Times and Wall Street Journal.

Bill lived a long and purposeful life with much to celebrate. We shall remain inspired by his bright, tenacious spirit yet shall miss his generous heart and good wit, which constantly made people smile and feel appreciated.

He is survived by his daughters, Jennie Kurtz of Denver, Judith Danforth of Providence, Rhode Island, Wendy Bodell of Essex, and Edith Tower of Newton, Massachusetts; their husbands; eight grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. His family would like to thank the caring staff of Essex Meadows for their years of kindness and dedication and Hospice of Connecticut’s compassionate care.

The family service will be private. In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of William A. Pollard may be made to the Essex Meadows Scholarship Foundation, 30 Bokum Road, Essex, CT 06426 or Brown University Sports Foundation, 145 South St #131, Providence, RI 02903.