Burdette Poland

Bud Poland was a great professor. As I sit here, I am reading a letter he wrote me in 2001. I graduated from Pomona College in 1962. I want to forward the letter and a picture he sent me of his family to the appropriate relative. My email address is: [email protected].

The man who opened up the world of History to me as an unformed young student at Pomona. His lectures were wondrous, brilliant, and delivered with understated charm and dry wit. Those were the days; lucky we were.

Dr. Poland was simply the best professor I ever had, and I've had some excellent ones. I was incredibly lucky to be assigned to his Western Civilization discussion group when I was a Pomona freshman back in 1963. He was a brilliant and inspiring lecturer, and though he revealed very little about his personal life or opinions, I could sense his innate decency and respect for his students. I was never an academic standout, but his classes - and I took all of them - taught me to investigate many...

Few people have been as important to so many as Bud. First as a professor, then as a colleague, and then too, I hope, as a friend, Bud emanated a sense of unswaying integrity, honesty, and respect for all and especially for truth and decency. He leavened it all with a deep love for his family, concern for his students, and honor to his profession. Wise and reflective (though he opined only when asked), he also enjoyed and appreciated music (from Rameau to Piaf), stories of his biker...

Although I last saw Bud with my Aunt Evelyn,back in the late 70's, I heard a lot about him from Winnie Pierce, the keeper of family memories. My sincere condolences to his family.
Sarah Poland ( daughter of the late Sherman Poland)

Dad had an enduring love of animals, especially of dogs, cats and horses; of travel; of languages. He spoke fluent French, passable German and Latin, and became fluent in Italian after he retired. He then studied Spanish and was getting quite good, when a T.I.A. hit him and wiped out all of his knowledge in one fell swoop - he never got it back. Dad also had a beautiful speaking voice, perfect pitch, and could whistle whole symphonies. He loved art and classical music and photography, and...