A TRIBUTE
IN LOVING MEMORY
OF
JOEL S. POLLACK

May 17, 1964 - May 24, 1998

By the Board of Directors in Regular Session Assembled June 01, 1998
A RESOLUTION

• WHEREAS: - Our Association and members are devastated by the recent sudden death of our President-elect Joel S. Pollack at the age of only 34 years; and
• WHEREAS: - This early in the aftermath of that terrible tragedy it is the unanimous sense of this Board that we need time to mourn the loss of Joel S. Pollack, and to adjust to our deep sense of personal, fraternal, and professional loss; and
• WHEREAS: - we wish further to show our admiration, love, respect for Joel S. Pollack by leaving "his" office vacant pro tem;now, therefore, be it
• RESOLVED: - That the matter of filling the vacancy in the office of President-elect is tabled for the balance of 1998.

DATED: 6/2/98 SIGNED: Christina Donnelly Costa CIC President

ATTEST: Rosemarie Louras, Secretary

We can never find the right words to say.
These words are borrowed from Kenny Loggins.
Remember these words as we go on, we cannot go back.
Dedicated to Joel on behalf of all his family & friends.

Submitted by Lou Narciso

YOU SHOULD LEAVE THIS EARTH

If you should leave this earth
And I forgot to say, "I love you"
Could you forgive myself?
I was too shy, too self-absorbed
Too cool to cry out
Though the weeds of my history

I hold it back
I dole it out by spoonfuls
Like drops of water in the desert
I fear that to drink too much too quickly
Could lessen its power to revive

And would "I love you" said too often
Turn into just some salutation
A word, "Good-bye
Goodnight
Hello
Sleep Well"
could suffer from such repetition?

Yet every time I say "My love"
My head rejects "You've said too much"
my heart screams out
"No - Not enough!"

My every breath exhales
The truth
for all my life
I've longed for you
My love, I know you know it too.

Beyond all words
We know the truth

Yet if you should leave this earth
And forget to say, "I love you"
Could I forgive myself?

Let it leave my anguished throat
That you should hear
My eloquent heart
beyond the noise of my mind.

kenny Loggins
to his brother
at his funeral
1993

In Memoriam
Joel Pollack

The IIAANY family lost a favorite son when Joel Pollack was tragically run down by a drunk driver Memorial Day weekend.

The idea of an association family is, in itself, a heartwarming, comforting one, but it makes an untimely loss such as this one all the more unsettling and upsetting. Joel was rising steadily through the "family" ranks - the Young Agents Committee and the Board of the IIAA of Queens and Kings Counties - and was advancing our Association's interests on those and other fronts. Like his dad, who served as President of IIAANY in 1985-86, he placed the good of the group - IIAANY - up high on his priority list.

We owe him and will give him our thanks in the form of remembrance. The IIAANY family will surely miss Joel and shares with his family an undying pride in his accomplishments.

John E. Haskell, CIC Richard A. Poppa, CAE/AAI
President Executive Vice President

Joel S. Pollack...

...was the love of my life.

not in a romantic ay, but in every other way that one person can love another. I would assume the role(s) of mother, sister, friend, mentor, and tormentor - sometimes all in the same phone conversation. He - he, would just always be him, and "him" was always wonderful.

I like to wear a public mask of strength and invulnerability, and would prefer to be considered a "tough broad" or other euphemism for same; than to be left with my heart hanging out waiting to be stepped upon. Joel never bought any of it - he would play along sometimes, but when necessary he would "call me" on my BS - and say things like "drop the tough guy act - this is me you are talking to now". I could always be me with him, and me - who am, what I am, and why I am - was just fine in his book. People like that who accept each individual for all that they are, and all that they are not are so very rare - to lose one is so tragic - for all the world, and most especially for those of us who has the honor, and truly the pleasure of having known him.

It is still so very difficult to grasp what has happened. In these two months following Joel's death I have had so many thoughts, and have tried so hard to "understand". The truth is, is that what happened in the early morning of May 24, 1998 is not "understandable", and it never shall be. When someone we love passes at an elderly age we can say to ourselves that they lead a "long and full" life, and we can comfort ourselves with that fact. when someone we love is struck down in the prime of his life, in such a random act of wanton violence there is simply nothing we can say to comfort ourselves.

I cling to my memories of Joel. The phone calls, the faxes, the meetings, the breakfast, lunch and dinners - boat trips and board meetings, conferences, conventions, and just hanging out, and goofing off. All wonderful - that make me laugh and smile, and all heartbreaking - that make me cry - because there will be no more "new" memories added.

It is our hope that this journal, this tribute to our beloved Joel will - at the very least - be an opportunity to crystallize, and to share the memories of we who loved him. The Officers and Directors of IIAAQ & KC thank all those who have participated in this Journal, and share with all of you the Joy that was Joel S. Pollack.

Until we meet again - and I know in my heart that we shall - be well my Angel - and save a place for me - heaven could use a few more "tough broads" like me.

Love forever - Chris
(Christine Donnelly Costa)

JOEL POLLACK
The Insurance Advocate
joins
New York's insurance community
in mourning
the untimely death of
Joel Pollack.

Energetic, bright, enthusiastic, handsome
and bound for great success,
this young professional,
taken from us before his time,
will be deeply missed.
and
will not be forgotten.

Steve, Carole, Claudia & Stephen Jr.

A tiny tidbit of a memory of a great guy!

I came to a regular monthly meeting and must have had a pensive look on my face, when Joel comes up to me and says " Josephine are you all right?" I responded " Yes, Joel why do you ask?" He just said "Are you sure?" Then I just pressed his arm and said " Thanks".

Any time I was working at the door and my partner had not yet arrived to work with me- Joel would be there. He would just sit down and help out.

My brief encounters with Joel are remembered as quiet and beautiful and the most respectful person I've ever met.

Josephine Zaccaria

Although I am seldom at a loss for words, when I sit down to write about Joel only tears come. What more can I say than I loved you, and I miss you buddy- we had so many good times.

Wayne Ruggiere

Joel, I miss all the times you made me laugh. I wish I could remember what you said to us just before this picture was taken to make me burst out into laughter. Thinking of you, Joel, will always make me smile. That is your gift to all of us.

Love your friend, Heidi xo…

I didn't know Joel well, but his Dad and I have been friends through the insurance industry for decades. People have said of Joel that he had his Dad's spirit and a warmth and kindness that brought a smile to your face. As a friend of Ken's and the father of two sons myself, I am deeply saddened at Joel's untimely passing.

Harvey Leff

Eileen Abraham

Rosemarie Louras

IN MEMORY
OF "OUR" JOEL

WE LOVE YOU!
WE MISS YOU, YOUR SMILE, AND
YOU ALWAYS WANTING THINGS DONE "JOEL'S WAY"

YOU ARE ALWAYS IN OUR
THOUGHTS AND HEARTS!

YOU WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN

Your AMERISC family

P.S. You really do have a lot of close friends!

1997 XMAS PARTY
Joel, Frank Abbatiello, Jerry Harris

AMERISC PICNIC
JULY 1997

Joel Pollack

Joel's introduction to the insurance industry happened in a very unusual way one warm June afternoon in the summer of 1986. That's when his father, Ken Pollack willingly offered me his first born son. Yes, this was a new approach to starting a career.

When Ken said to me "Frank, you can have my son Joel for five years, train him and let him work for Aetna, then return him to me and the agency where we will still represent Aetna, now as an agent." I thought it was a good idea since the company could not retain trainees for five years at the time.

I cautioned Ken that Joel would have to go through the complete interview process. This would require interviews by at least three(3) managers at Aetna. Well, Joel went through the interview process with flying colors.

Joel now had a job offer as an underwriter trainee, which he accepted at the then bass salary for trainees. I am sure even though I was never advised the base salary was supplemented by Dad.

All the concerns that I or any one else had about a possible conflict of interest soon disappeared once Joel completed his training and was assigned an underwriters title.

Joel became more than just a competent underwriter, he developed relationships with both the company people and agents that had Joel standing above the crowd. There was hardly a week that went by when I did not receive a compliment from agents telling me of the many fine things Joel had done for their agency.

Joel was accepted with love and understanding from his fellow employees when it would have been easy for most people in this position to be resented by his co-workers. Joel quickly became the spokesman for his fellow employees and in his diplomatic manner would attempt to advise me as to what I should do to keep the troops happy. He did this in a most delightful way knowing he was representing his friends with dignity.

Joel was eventually promoted to a senior underwriter, which was followed by an underwriting supervisory title. In both jobs he performed in his usual outstanding manner. Joel would have progressed into higher management if he were not promised to return to the agency.

He completed his five year handshake contract between me and his father exactly five years and two week after Ken I agreed on his services.

Joel you were always a delight to have around and even now in my days of semi-retirement I chuckle at the things you did and tried to do, I'll miss you always.

In fond memory,

Frank A. Balleta

THE "KID"

Last week I was honored by the Independent Insurance Agents of Rockland County, they awarded me the Gerald O'Brien award. The award is to honor the memory of Gerry O'Brien, a local independent agent who gave tirelessly to his association and community.

This award was a surprise to me that night. As the presenter (Doug Cypes) stated this year's recipient served as the list started with all the IIARC positions, than all the downstate positions, all the IIAANY committees and Task Forces. Next Doug started to list my awards. Young Agent of the Year Award, "Charlie Award" as outstanding local board president, James R. Studgeon Award. Doug was saying all these great things about me when in truth it was not just me it was the people I had helping me. "Pilla's Crew".
My crew started out about thirteen years ago when I attended my first Young Agents convention in Saratoga and met Mark Slocum, John Buckley, Rich Delasoto, Craig Sietz and many other Young Agents who became part of the crew. The following year I met Andy Lerner, Ron Brunell, Carmine Pisano, Joel Pollack, Lee Pagones, Marty Kelly, Mike Lavalle and Lori Borrelli. I started my first term as Chairman of the Young Agents Committee and the crew got stronger and we started getting things done with a lot of help from a lot of people. But the friendship with Joel started that year!

I sure am glad I never held it against Joel that he was a company(Aetna) person. We became good friends. I now realize that all of Joel's friends felt they were his closest friends. He had time for everyone, and made us all feel that we were talking about at the time was most important thing he ever heard. Joel's personality was positive and infectious to the point that you would feel great after being in the same room with him or after a phone conversation with him. Joel had that smile and the laugh that you just will not ever forget.

Joel was the young guy with all the energy in the crew. Sometimes we had to pull him back in line and sometimes we had to just ride his wave of energy. Joel was the "KID" that shined and you could always count on him.

I think about Joel every day, and the way Joel was killed. Every morning since Doug Cypes phoned me to tell me of Joel's death I have had to look in the mirror and know that I could have been involved from either end of that terrible accident. I know I have driven my car under the influence of alcohol. I know I am always in the street waving down a cab to go some place . Being at Joel's funeral was just terrible, to see all the pain that this "Drunk Driver" caused, I know understand the tremendous responsibility we have to each other as humans when drinking.

Words could never express the tragedy of Joel's death. I know that at Joel's grave I promised to do whatever I could to prevent this from happening to another member of my CREW. "Joel's Law"would be a good start. Joel's smile, Laugh and Enthusiasm will stay with me forever.

Bob Pilla

"JOEL'S JOURNAL"

My brief encounter with Joel was extremely pleasant. When I first came to an IIAAQ&KC meeting a number of years ago the first person I encountered was Joel. His broad smile and warm handshake were extremely comforting since I really did not know anyone at the meeting. He made me feel as though he really was happy to meet me. Of course I was already enlightened by Edith Nadraus , who at the time worked in my office, that should I encounter Joel I was to give him her regards! She emphatically stated that he was probably one of the nicest people she had ever met while she was working with him in Aetna. Certainly Joel had lived up to Edith's billing! He was cordial, polite, friendly and a real gentlemen!

Joel was one of the few people that I have met that always asked what he could do to help rather than what can you do for me. He will be missed terribly for what he did, what he said and how he treated others. I will always remember his warm smile the first time I met him and hope that someday I can do for someone what he did for me at my first IIAAQ&KC meeting!

Rich Cook-Cook, Hendel & Cox, Inc.

COMPLETING A FILE

The Insurance advocate Maintains a Morgue that Dates Back to 1889.

This resource is used by staff for background information on current insurance leaders. It is often used, sadly for obituaries.

Typically, the files describe successful men who have lived beyond retirement age and who can boast the accomplishments that go with substantial working careers. These insurance and legal executives serve an industry that, in turn, serves them, in a happy reciprocity that requires many years to establish. There are hundreds of insurance agents in the files- since 1889.

When the new of Joel Pollack's death was called in to us, we spent the holiday weekend with a glazed, insensate, empty feeling of irrational disbelief for the young man whose picture along with our children's and friends photos sit on our piano. It was a bright summer's day. Joel was, maybe 22.

He was killed at 34, quite unlike the insurance executives in the files, Joel was murdered by a drunk driver.

Malevolent road behavior is at a runaway increase. Gov. George Pataki's "Road Rage" bill was one answer, and the industry's action on drunk driving is another. Strict law enforcement and stern sentencing are answers.

Stricter laws won't return Joel Pollack to his family, his friends, his agency, IIAANY or to the streets of New York. However, stricter laws should cut from those streets the killers whose utter irresponsibility runs up auto insurance rates, clogs the legal and law enforcement systems and destroys beautiful, young lives like Joel's . The session in Albany is over, but next year should see a push- even harder- for even greater accountability, for tougher laws, for breathalyzer- sensitive and for whatever it will take to end the senseless, irrational cycle of harm.

Joel's file in the Advocate's morgue would have had its first entry following his swearing -in June 18 as president-elect of Queens & Kings Counties.

Now there's only one news clip in the file- from Newsday, describing the fatal incident- the murder.

If the industry can succeed with a "Joel's Law" next year, that puts teeth in the DWI law, that file will contain some bright news….in memory of a bright, young professional.

Steve Acunto
"Reprinted with permission"

SABATELLI & SWIFT CO.
INSURANCE

July 28,1998

Christina Donnelly Costa, CIC
Editor, Citylines
B&B Coverage Corp.
10 Fifth Avenue
Valley Stream, NY 11582

Dear Christina,

Please include the following memorial to Joel from our family.

In February of 1995, our office was interviewed for "Citylines" by Joel Pollack. As soon as he sat down to talk to us, we all felt his warmth and personality come across our table.

We saw much of his dad in him, but we also saw the new generation of agent too. Joel was bright, witty and informed on the issues of our industry, certainly a vibrant force for the future.

We can only express our loss, both as a colleague and as a friend.

Sincerely,

Steve, Lynn & Lloyd Sabatelli

IIAANY YOUNG AGENTS CONFERENCE
JUNE 1996
SARATOGA SPRINGS, NEW YORK
JOEL WAS CHAIRMAN OF THE YOUNG AGENTS COMMITTEE

Joel was an integral part of the IIAAQ&KC Family

Volunteer Blood Drive, October 1995


Sharing a laugh at a Monthly Meeting 1996


Membership Chairman 1995-1996

IIAAQ&KC INSTALLATION DINNER DANCE
JUNE 20, 1996
JOEL WAS INSTALLED AS
2ND VICE PRESIDENT

IIAAQ&KC INSTALLATION DINNER DANCE 6/19/97
Ken Pollack installed Joel as First vice President & Joel received an award
for outstanding service to the Association.

IIAA LEGISLATIVE CONFERENCE
MARCH 1997

IIAAQ&KC EXECUTIVE BOARD
JUNE 17, 1997

Christina Costa, President; Heidi Petschauer, President Elect
Joel Pollack, 1st Vice President, Erwin Petschauer, 2nd Vice President

IIAAQ&KC Legislative Breakfast, January 23, 1998


IIAAQ&KC Summer Board Meeting, July 1997

IMAGE HERE!

IIAAQ&KC
ALBANY LEGISLATIVE CONFERENCE
FEBRUARY 1998

IIAA WASHINGTON LEGISLATIVE CONFERENCE
MARCH 26, 1998
Joel was legislative chairman for IIAAQ&KC

Enjoying good times with family...


Joel with sister Jill and brother Rick


Out to dinner with brother Rick and dad Ken


Joel and Grandpa Lenny

Joel loved to have his back scratched and any female sitting
next to him was obliged to "pleasure him" - here it is sister Jill.


Joel, his brother Rick and sister Jill were always
close, and loved "hanging out" together.


Wrestling after a Knockout Pillow Fight

& Friends...


Joel jams with some friends playing their "air instruments"


Joel was very talented and extremely musical.
He played a "little" piano, guitar and had a
voice like a bird!


On his 33rd birthday, May 17, 1997


Best friends Doug Keller and Gary Berman


Enjoying the Hamptons, Summer '97

On May 15, 1998 Joel together with about 50 friends celebrated his upcoming 34th Birthday at Manhattan's China Club where his sister Jill, and her band Laugh Out Loud were performing. They surprised him with a cake...

This is the last photo taken of our beloved Joel, and we close this journal with it, and Joel's signature sign off....

We conclude our memorial issue of Citylines as Joel
ended every conversation or meeting...
Gotta Go
Love ya
Bye...

...Joel S. Pollack

And we add "until we meet again" - because in our hearts and souls
we know that we shall meet up with our beloved Joel again and until
then we will embrace the wonderful memories of him.