JOAN E. POLLAK

Joan E. Pollak, 54, of Minaville Street, Amsterdam, New York, passed away Thursday evening, February 25, 2010, at the Saratoga Hospital in Saratoga Springs, New York. Born in Amsterdam on March 21, 1955, she was a daughter of the late Donald and Rita O'Connor Gorman. Joan received her education at St. Mary's Institute and was a graduate of Bishop Scully High School, Class of 1973. She also attended the State University of New York at Canton. Joan received her degree as a LPN from BOCES of Schenectady County. Joan was employed in the Neurology Unit at Ellis Hospital in Schenectady, New York for many years and then at Amsterdam Memorial Hospital in the Maternity Ward for 17 years. She last worked for Alliance Imaging for nine years, until the onset of her most recent illness. Joan was a parishioner and communicant of St. Mary's Church. She was also a member of the American Legion Post 337 Woman's Auxiliary in Broadalbin, New York and the Southside Bocce League. Joan was very instrumental in the organizing of the Kristy Pollak Memorial Park on Lyon Street in Amsterdam and the Kristy Pollak, Make-A-Wish Golf Tournament held in honor of her daughter. Joan was a great supporter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Joan also loved riding motorcycles. Her husband, David B. Pollak whom she married on September 27, 1980, survives Joan at home. Joan was also predeceased by her loving daughter, Kristy L. Pollak on October 1, 2000; her two brothers, Stephen J. Gorman and William K. Gorman; her two sisters, Maggie Gorman McNamara and Stacy L. Priamo; her father and mother-in-law, Edward and Bev Pollak; her brother-in-law, Edward Pollak and her pet German Shepard, JoJo. Joan is survived by two sisters, Nancy Abeel of Albany, New York and Kay B. Miller of Hagaman, New York; two brothers-in-law, Gary Pollak of Broadalbin and Paul Priamo of Perth, New York. Joan is also survived by many loving aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and her pet German Shepard, Bailey. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday morning, March 2, 2010 at 8:15 at the Riley Mortuary, Inc., 110 Division Street, Amsterdam, New York followed at 9 o'clock by a Mass of Christian Burial, which will be celebrated at St. Mary's Church, 156 East Main Street, Amsterdam, New York. Interment will be at St. Mary's Cemetery, Fort Johnson, New York. Calling hours are Monday from 4 to 7 at the mortuary. Memorial gifts in Joan's name may be made to Make-A-Wish of Northeast New York, 950 New Loudon Road, Suite 280, Latham, New York 12110.