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LOUISE ROBIN DUBITSKY POLAN

LOUISE ROBIN DUBITSKY POLAN obituary, Huntington, OH

FUNERAL HOME

Klingel-Carpenter Mortuary

328 6th Avenue

Huntington, West Virginia

LOUISE POLAN Obituary





LOUISE ROBIN DUBITSKY POLAN, philanthropist, art collector and Ohio State Ph.D. candidate, died at home with her family on Tuesday, March 20, 2018, in Proctorville, Ohio. She was 71. Smart, fierce and beautiful, Louise had a deep passion for learning, teaching and adventure. Louise retired from a successful 24-year career as Chief Curator at the Huntington Museum of Art in 1999 in order to pursue her dream of earning a Ph.D. in Art History. Louise completed all but her dissertation prior to her death. During her time as curator of the Huntington Museum of Art, she shared her knowledge and passion with the community through lectures, tours and by bringing new and thought-provoking styles of art to the Huntington community. Still on display today, visitors can enjoy the Herman Dean Firearms Gallery, the Touma Near Eastern Gallery and the Glass Gallery. In addition, Louise worked with the Polan family to commission a unique glass sculpture by artist Dale Chihuly in honor of the memory of Lake Polan Jr. and Dorothy Lewis Polan, which sits in the Museum's C. Fred Edwards Conservatory. Prior to her career at Huntington Museum of Art, Louise was employed by the Museum School of the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, where she worked while pursuing a Master of Fine Arts at Tufts University. Louise completed her MFA at The Ohio University in 1979. She received her Bachelor's Degree from Boston University where she majored in French. She also studied at the Universite de Poitiers in France. In addition to serving on the board of directors of Marshall University's Society of Yeager Scholars, Louise was a popular Yeager Scholar Professor at Marshall University, where she co-taught an interdisciplinary history course from the arts perspective. Following her retirement, she continued to contribute to the Huntington arts community through her work on the Huntington Museum Board of Directors. Mrs. Polan believed that every child should have access to art and regularly donated supplies to local schools. Growing up in Fall River, Massachusetts, Louise was perhaps a bit surprised to find herself building a life with her new husband, Lake Polan III, in slow-paced Proctorville, Ohio. During their courtship they had planned to remain in New England until Lake tricked her into moving to his hometown. She allowed him to move her, and actually to marry her, primarily because he gave her her first dog. However, Louise, who once skipped a family wedding to attend Woodstock - yes, the original - was always on the lookout for a good adventure, and she embraced the juxtaposition of quiet times with exotic travels with her husband and children. She was an avid gardener and collector of exotic plants, especially orchids and begonias. While she explored nearly every continent, she was perhaps most content eating a lobster roll and a blueberry ice cream on an annual vacation to Deer Isle, Maine. She made sure that her family appreciated both the allure of the unknown and the simple pleasures of a quiet family night at home by a fire. In December Mrs. Polan wrote the following to her family: "Dear all: Sometimes we take the small things and ignore the wonder of it all. You get sick and they tell you to enjoy the sights, smells and colors of the world. You stare out the car window and realize that you have been doing that mostly for years ... As silly as this may sound, (you've) brought tears to my eyes because what I have realized and learned is that the most important item in life is being surrounded by people who care for and champion you." Louise is survived by her husband, Lake Polan III of Proctorville, Ohio; her daughter, Rebecca Polan of Charlottesville, Virginia; her son, Lake C. Polan of New Orleans, Louisiana (Jared Davidson); her mother, Bernice Dubitsky of Fall River, Massachusetts; and her brother, Stanley Dubitsky of Bedford Massachusetts. She was predeceased by her father, Carlton Dubitsky. A memorial service in Louise's honor will be held 3:30 p.m. Sunday, March 25, 2018, at B'Nai Sholom Congregation. In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made to The Huntington Museum of Art or Hospice of Huntington. Family guestbook at www.klingelcarpenter.com.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The Herald-Dispatch from Mar. 23 to Mar. 24, 2018.

Memories and Condolences
for LOUISE POLAN

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Lake

March 17, 2023

Louise Dear, I miss you a whole lot. I so wish you could see what´s become of our family. They have been so successful in their relationships and careers! You would be so pleased. Love you
Lake

March 28, 2018

So very sad to hear of Louise's passing at such a young age. She and her family in Massachusetts was an important part of my childhood.

May she rest in peace.

Warm thoughts are with you,

Suzi Robinovitz Hunt

Paula & Carl Lilly

March 25, 2018

A beautiful write-up for Louise. She was certainly a wonderful lady. While working for the Polan's I found her to always be so nice to me and complementary. She will sorely be missed by all.
Love to all the family!

Rose Marie Riter

March 25, 2018

The earth has lost an amazing citizen. She did so much for so many. Cherish those happy memories.

Lilan Laishley

March 25, 2018

I am very sad to hear of her passing. I am sure her family will miss her terribly. But I am pleased to see that she led the exact life that she wanted. No one can ask more than that at the end of their days. Thank you, Louise, for all your contributions to art and teaching.

Linda Strine

March 24, 2018

My heart goes out to the family and friends of Louise Polan. There are no words to fully express my feelings for this loss. I have wonderful memories of what a loving and supportive mother and wife Louise was. I saw her charisma, character and devotion as she interacted with the people she loved, as well as her dedication and tenacity to get things done! I was very fortunate to have know Louise. She will be missed terribly.

Jenn Donovan

March 23, 2018

I was lucky to have spent 2 weeks with Louise, Lake and Rebecca in the Galápagos Islands in 2014. I was then blessed to share another conservation trip with these beautiful souls on the eastern shore of VA. Louise was fiull of wonder, natural curiosity and compassion all through an artistic lense. I feel honored to have been in her presence. She was and will always be a beautiful soul.

Pati Pierucci

March 23, 2018

Our heart felt condolences to your family.
Much Love The Pierucci's

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Memorial Events
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Mar

25

Memorial service

3:30 p.m.

B'Nai Sholom Congregation

WV

Funeral services provided by:

Klingel-Carpenter Mortuary

328 6th Avenue, Huntington, WV 25701

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