Eleanor Amis "Polly" Spaar

Eleanor Amis "'Polly'' Spaar, 81, of Charlottesville, died peacefully Wednesday morning, January 22, 2003, after a long courageous struggle with emphysema. Beloved by friends , neighbors and family, Polly was known for her exuberant spirit, colorful stories,compassion, and generosity. She made valuable, lifelong contributions to her community, her church, her counseling practice, and to her special interest: early childhood learning, mediation and conflict resolution, women's issues, the arts, and the environment. Born in Broken Bow, Oklahoma to Everett and Mary Amis, she was raised in Dyersburg, Tennessee, pursued musical studies in New York City, and received her BA in Psychology from Sophie Newcomb College in New Orleans, LA. She designed and trained the first volunteer corps in Charity Hospital in New Orleans.There she met and married Dr. Albert Spaar, Jr. After living for several years in Vernon, Texas, they moved with their three children to Charlottesville in 1961. Polly served as Director of Christian Education and as a vestry member at St. Paul's Memorial Church and was a founder/director of the Virginia Association for Transactional Analysis. Passionate about exploring new ideas, she loved traveling, the theater, cooking, and her garden. A loving mother and grandmother, Polly is survived by her son, Peter Spaar of Charlottesville, and daughters Katherine Spaar of Fairfax, VA, and Mary Scot Jonte' of Waveland, MS; her brother Robert Amis of Wayzata, MN, and sister Jeanne Jernigan of Kingsport, TN; and seven grandchildren: Jacob Potapchuk, Jocelyn, Adam and Suzannah Spaar, and Peter, Sarah and Kate Jonte'. Funeral services will be held at 4:00 P.M. on Saturday, January 25, 2003 at St. Paul's Memorial Church following a private interment ceremony. The family will receive friends at a reception in the Parish Hall immediately after the service. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to The Fellowship Fund of Westminster Canterbury Foundation or to St. Paul's Memorial Church.