Irving Lawrence Pollander, much-loved patriarch of the Pollander clan, died at the age of 96 in St. Albans on December 18, 2025, with family at his side. He was born in Graniteville, Vt., on September 8, 1929, to Lawrence Peter Pollander and Bertha (Reynolds) Pollander, shortly after Lawrence suffered a devastating industrial accident in the granite quarry. They returned to Jeffersonville to be closer to family support as Lawrence recovered.
Growing up in Cambridge during the Great Depression in a crew of incredible storytellers, Dad inherited the ability to converse with anyone, anywhere, any time. He told many stories about how hard life on the farm was, but often said, “We didn’t know we were poor — because everyone else was, too.” He and his younger brother, Robbie, roamed the fields and woods and were both avid hunters and fishermen, skills and passions he passed along to future generations.
Graduating from Cambridge High School in 1947, he enrolled in the Vermont State School of Agriculture, graduating in 1950. He joined the U.S. Army, serving in Korea from 1954 to 1956, and returned to marry Beverly (Rooney) Pollander in 1956. He had a distinguished career with Metropolitan Life until he tired of the corporate world and decided to start a sawmill. In 1964 he was hired by IBM, “retiring” in 1990. He then started his handyman business, tackling odd jobs for any lady in town who needed help — lawn mowing, rototilling, stacking wood, fence mending and hanging storm windows, often accepting lunch or dinner in lieu of payment. Gardening was important to him — he was renowned for his annual potato and buttercup squash crops, supplying many area church and community suppers with vegetables. Every kid — and animal — he ever met made him grin. He loved to tease kids to see if he could get them to laugh, and he had a pocketful of tricks to intrigue them with. He always had some goodies in his pocket for Leisa’s horses, and he kept a box of dog treats on top of the refrigerator for canine guests. He was an incredible history buff; the Civil War and anything to do with railroads fascinated him. Somewhere he unearthed a railroad repair car and restored it — he ran it on the defunct St. J & LC railroad tracks for many years until the tracks were removed, even running it to Cambridge Junction for happy hour at Robbie’s Wildlife Refuge.
He is survived by his children and their spouses: Leisa Pollander and Ed Conrad and Barry and Linda Pollander, all of Jeffersonville, and Lori and Matt Malloy of Johnson; four grandchildren and their families: Kaylee Pollander and Matt Walter (Nyssa and Caspian) of West Virginia, Peter and Veronika Pollander (Clayton) of Fletcher, Rachel and Tyler Barnett (Lucas and Laura) of Craftsbury, and Lindsey and Mike Ludwig (Brynlee, Brody and Bryson) of Florida; as well as two sisters-in-law, Betty Pollander of Jeffersonville and Geraldene Rooney of Shelburne. He also leaves many cousins, nephews and nieces. He was predeceased by his parents; the mother of his children, Bev; his beloved partner, Nancy Rooney; his brother, Robbie; and three very best buds: Tink Kittell, Greg Edwards and Larry Rooney.
There are so many people to thank — his “girls” at Robbie’s who would notify us if he didn’t show up for his daily check-in; the staff of Family Practice Associates, especially Dr. Donald Miller; the staff of Lamoille Home Health, especially Chantal Henn; and his private duty aides: Guyla, Nicki, Kara and Erica — with your love and care he was able to stay home as long as possible.
Per his explicit instructions, there will be no visitation or funeral, preferring a celebration of his life to be held at Robbie’s Wildlife Refuge. Please join us there on Saturday, January 17, 2026, at noon, for laughter, hugs, tears and stories to honor an exemplary man.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial donation to the Eagles Green Mountain 3210, PO Box 326, Jeffersonville, VT 05464, in support of the Robbie Pollander Scholarship Fund; Lamoille Home Health, 54 Farr Avenue, Morrisville, VT 05661; or the Villa Rehab Center, 7 Forest Hill Drive, St. Albans, VT 05478, in support of the residents activity fund. Please visit awrfh.com to share your memories and condolences.