My father, Richard (Dick) Pollenz, had curiosity about many things. He loved to research, delighted in figuring out details, and was fascinated about pathways, networks, and learning. It is not surprising that his curiosity about family origins led him to delve deeper and deeper into the people and places that encompass our extended family. He became passionate about finding family members and creating connections along the way. Finding family was exciting, illuminating, unexpected, and a labor of love.

He had hoped the family genealogy site would live on, and hoped that we would all keep the genealogy research alive and ongoing.

Thanks, Dad, for all of the work you did connecting us all.

Kathy Shannon
December 2020

My first contact with my cousin Richard Stanley (Dick) Pollenz was in 1999 when I received a phone call from Dick introducing himself and asking for some information to fill in gaps in his genealogical research.  My branch of the Pollenz family resided in and around the New York City and Long Island area for the most part, and we knew of one other branch in the area.  We also suspected that my great-grandfather had started another branch in the Chicago area before coming to New York, and Dick was of the Chicago branch.

After providing Dick with information on two occasions, imagine my surprise when a roughly 700 page bound manuscript showed up on my doorstep!  That manuscript, and the updates by Dick as well as users, are contained in the following pages.

One of the highlights of my life was a trip to Chicago to meet Dick’s side of the family and to catch up on the history of their side of the family, as well as share my thoughts on my side of the family.

Sadly, Dick passed away in February, 2019.  While he will be missed, he will never be forgotten.  You can visit a tribute to Dick at Forever Missed.

Alan Pollenz
February 2021