[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 133 (Thursday, November 18, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2070-E2071]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         EULOGY TO KENNETH H. POLLARD OF METHUEN, MASSACHUSETTS

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. MARTIN T. MEEHAN

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 18, 2004

  Mr. MEEHAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay my respects to an 
outstanding citizen of Methuen, Massachusetts Kenneth Pollard. Kenneth 
passed away on Tuesday, November 9, 2004 at 82 years of age.
  Kenneth is survived by his wife, Betty; daughters Sharon and 
Patricia; sons Michael and K. Jeffrey; sisters Claire and Jacqueline; 
granddaughters Catherine, Haley, and Morgan; and grandsons Christopher 
and Kenneth.
  Kenneth lived a full life and touched the lives of countless 
individuals. He was an accomplished athlete in his youth and a 
dedicated Red Sox Fan. He joined the Army Air Corps during World War II 
and was a member of American Legion Post 122 of Methuen. Kenneth was a 
successful businessman, devoted family man, and community leader. 
Throughout his life he volunteered much of his time to community boards 
and committees, as well as serving as a Methuen city councilor.
  Sharon M. Pollard, who is the Mayor of Methuen, Massachusetts, 
delivered a beautiful eulogy to her father, Kenneth, at Saint Monica's 
Church on Saturday, November 13, 2004. I ask for unanimous consent to 
submit to the Record Mayor Pollard's eulogy to her father:

       My Mom, brothers, sister and aunts wish to thank you so 
     much for the support you have all given us in the last few 
     days, weeks and months. Our family sends you a collective 
     thank you.
       Dad was born into a loving home with his parents, 
     grandparents, and great grandparents. His sisters 
     affectionately say that in this home he was known as ``my 
     son-my son''.
       A product of Methuen's public schools, he excelled in 
     school as a student and an athlete. He received letters in 
     baseball, football and basketball. Although mostly English, 
     he liked to think of himself as Irish. He used to tell the 
     story of how his great uncle Tom who had been born in 
     Ireland, wanted him to go to Notre Dame, but he decided to 
     stay closer to home and attend Boston College. He loved 
     watching the Eagles and the Fighting Irish play football.
       He loved his country and served as a sergeant in the Army/
     Air Force in WWII. He served in various places, but it was at 
     his last stop, Sedalia, Missouri where he met Mom. In May, 
     they celebrated their 58th anniversary and they loved each 
     other very much.
       Dad had four children and each one of them received a piece 
     of him. Michael, his profession, Patty, his passion for 
     baseball, Jeff, his name and athletic ability and me--well we 
     did politics together. We were kindred political souls. And 
     now you know what the conversation was at our dinner table.
       He was blessed with five beautiful grandchildren: 
     Catherine, Haley, Morgan, Kenny and Christopher from whom he 
     received much love and pleasure. Dad was happiest when the 
     children were around, but as we grew older we realized that 
     it was the little ones that he really wanted to spend time 
     with. In the last 10 years, Sundays at the beach were the 
     best times--he knew that the children and grandchildren would 
     be coming for dinner.
       Dad was a very unique person. He was highly motivated and 
     created a highly successful business from the ground up. He

[[Page E2071]]

     treated people with respect and dignity and spoke kindly 
     about everyone. He was, I believe, the nicest man I ever met. 
     A great businessman, he was a gentle soul and so many people 
     loved him dearly.
       Growing up we all had a great time. Mom was from Missouri 
     and when she went to visit her family every summer, we would 
     do special things, like heading to Claire and Jacquie's at 
     the beach. Dad's favorite escapade with us was to the 
     ballpark. We would head to Fenway Park and we always went 
     early so we could watch the players arrive and then watch 
     batting practice. The gentleman in the parking lot thought 
     Dad was a doctor, so we always got a great parking space to 
     allow for a quick escape. I wonder why he thought that! He 
     loved the Red Sox and as a result, the whole family loved the 
     Red Sox. Like all of us, he lived to see the Sox win a world 
     series. It was a happy interlude at a sad time in his life. 
     GO SOX.
       Dad inherited from his Dad and Grandfather a love of 
     animals and the sport of Kings. So when we weren't at the 
     ballpark, we would make the trip up Route 28 to Rockingham. 
     Dad would bring us early in the day so we could see the 
     racehorses going through their pre-race routines. If our 
     grandfather were with us, we would always stop at Granite 
     State Potato chips for a sour pickle. He was the best Dad!
       Dad always taught us that we needed to give back to our 
     community and he very much lived his advice. He served on the 
     Housing Authority, Chaired a Charter Commission, Chaired the 
     High School Building Committee and was elected to Methuen's 
     City Council. He involved himself in many charitable 
     organizations and always worked to try to make his community 
     a great place to live and raise families. His last civic act 
     was to cast his vote for the man who should be President. He 
     was saddened by the outcome of November 2nd.
       His last year was a difficult one for him, but he took in 
     all in stride. He would tell people that he had no regrets--
     that he had lived a great life and had the opportunity to 
     watch his children grow to be successful and to spend time 
     with the little ones in our family. He loved his 
     grandchildren very much and they will dearly miss their 
     ``Buppa''.
       As he got older, he developed an insatiable desire for 
     political and current events television shows--Chris Matthews 
     and Hardball were no strangers to his home but he also loved 
     to watch the unfortunate likes of Bill O'Reilly and Hannity 
     and Colmes. He listened intently to what they had to say and 
     oftentimes made comment. When I asked him why he watched 
     those shows, he told me that you always need to know what the 
     opposition is thinking. He was wise.
       He was treated by the skilled doctors of the Massachusetts 
     General Hospital's ALS research team. We were all so hopeful 
     that Dad would be able to benefit from the research strides 
     made by this team of dedicated doctors, but time was not on 
     his side. But, our family is hopeful that Dad was able to 
     provide some knowledge to his Doctors which will help them 
     beat this insidious disease.
       Dad's end was peaceful and he was surrounded by his very 
     loving family. So many friends showered us with kindness. 
     Their comforting words and the meals and snacks they provided 
     us, were welcome gifts. We loved the food and Dad would have 
     as well.
       When things weren't going well, someone always miraculously 
     appeared, like Carla Moriarty and Dr. Nelson Matos to help us 
     through the newest bump. We love you all and you will always 
     have a special place in our hearts.
       He was cared for by wonderful VNA and Hospice nurses, as 
     well as other health care professionals who treated him with 
     dignity and kindness and he loved them in return. Our family 
     is humbled by their devotion and we will always remember 
     their spirit and affection.
       We chose the following verse to put on 
     the back of Dad's prayer card because our 
     family thought it was written with our Dad in mind . . .

     When through one man a little more love,
     A little more goodness,
     A little more hope,
     A little more beauty,
     A little more joy,
     And a little more faith
     Has come into the world
     Then that man's life has had meaning.

       To his children he was our hero--our mentor--our 
     conscience--our rock. He was everything we could ever hope to 
     be. He was the nicest man and the best Dad on earth. We are 
     crushed to lose him but blessed with so many wonderful 
     memories--so many wonderful memories.
       In August, when Mom and Dad sold their home at the beach 
     and were not yet able to move into their new home, they went 
     to live in the interim with Patty, Ed and Catherine. Dad 
     spent his last months in a happy house, where he wakened each 
     day to the smiles of his precious Catherine and where Patty 
     and Ed attended to his every need, including the brownies 
     and ice cream before bed. Many of Dad's friends came to 
     visit him at Patty's and they were always welcomed. Mike, 
     Jeff and I are profoundly grateful to our sister and her 
     family for the care they have given Mom and Dad and for 
     the wonderful environment in which Dad died.
       The Pollard Funeral Home was Dad's dream and joy. He 
     started his business over 50 years ago and over the years he 
     and his staff have comforted and served thousands of families 
     in the Greater Lawrence communities. He was enormously proud 
     of Mike and the staff at the funeral home and they in turn, 
     have cared for Dad with dignity and reverence. All of the 
     Pollard family thanks you for the respect you have shown to 
     us and to Dad.
       Jeff was Dad's sports buddy. If they weren't discussing the 
     Patriots then it was golf--a sport they played together 
     often. At those Sunday afternoon dinners, the rest of us were 
     resigned to the fact that we were in clicker hell--bouncing 
     back between whatever the sports of the day were. Jeff 
     honored Dad by naming his only son Kenneth. In our household 
     we refer to them not as the 3 amigos but as the 3 Kenny's.
       Our family is so thankful for the clergy who honor Dad by 
     their presence on the altar today. I know Dad would be 
     particularly pleased that his friend of over 50 years, Bishop 
     Joseph McGuire, could be with him as well. A beautiful 
     service would not be so without beautiful music and voices. 
     To those who lend their voices, spirit and their gift to us 
     today, we are grateful.
       Dad was blessed with many friends throughout his life, some 
     here today and others who met him on the first tee or in the 
     clubhouse at a heavenly race track on Tuesday morning. I have 
     faith that he is in a far better place and that the warmth we 
     feel now is his smile, the peace we sense is his comforting 
     hand and the light which surrounds us is his love.
       In his high school yearbook, the quote under his picture 
     read, ``Yet leaving here a name, I trust, That will not 
     perish in the dust'' Sixty-four years later we affirm that 
     Dad left his mark on his community and he will always have a 
     special place in our hearts.
       So many people love you Dad, but none more than me.

                          ____________________