SYLVIA K. POLGAR

Sylvia K. Polgar Ph.D. of Wilmington NC died Tuesday, April 9, 2008, at Lower Cape Fear Hospice Center.
Sylvia Florence Knopp Polgar was born in New York City in 1928 to Arthur Knopp and Selma Berger Knopp. She earned a Bachelor's degree in Psychology at Columbia University in 1959, and was a research associate with Bank Street College.
In 1961 she married Steven Polgar Ph.D. (1931-1978), an anthropologist specializing in population studies, and a holocaust survivor. In New York she assisted the Council on Social Work Education, trained with the U.S. Public Health Service, and lectured at New York University in 1964.
She and Steve Polgar had two sons (Misi and Chris), and when Steve got work at the University of North Carolina in 1968, the family moved to Chapel Hill.
Sylvia Polgar earned her Ph.D. in sociology at UNC-Chapel Hill in 1974. She lectured at UNC Chapel Hill before starting what would become almost twenty-year of service at UNC-Wilmington in 1976. Sylvia taught courses in sociology, social work, and anthropology at UNC-Wilmington until retiring in 1995. For six years she endured a very long weekly commute to work, between Chapel Hill NC and Wilmington. She survived the loss of her husband in 1978. In addition, Sylvia served her community in many leadership roles, encouraging community relations and public health.
Sylvia Polgar earned her Ph.D. in sociology at UNC-Chapel Hill in 1974. She lectured at UNC-Chapel Hill before starting what would become almost twenty years of service at UNC-Wilmington in 1976. Sylvia taught courses in sociology, social work, and anthropology at UNC-W before retiring in 1995. For six years, she commuted weekly between Chapel Hill and Wilmington, in order to both teach and be with her family on the weekends. In 1978 she survived the loss of her husband and became a single parent for 30 years thereafter. Since 1982, Sylvia has served the Wilmington community in many leadership roles, with a special focus on relations between ethnic groups and public health, serving as a role model for women by developing a successful independent career.
Sylvia was a teacher and friend to many in her community. She was a leader and a caretaker, a strong parent and grandparent, a volunteer and a good neighbor. She was independent and caring, generous with her time and attention, loving and witty, engaging and helpful to many. Sylvia spoke Spanish and loved to travel. She enjoyed family and friends, nature and arts (including pottery), walking and cooking.
She is survived by sons, Michael Polgar of Kingston, PA, and Chris Polgar of Carrboro, NC, and granddaughters Sophie, Isabelle, and Rebecca Polgar.
Donations in her memory may be directed to the United Jewish Communities women's philanthropy (http://www.ujc.org/).
Memorial services will be held in Wilmington in late May or early June, at a time and place to be announced.
Online condolences at StarNewsOnline.com