Gene Edward Pollock

November 27, 1934 - November 5, 2020

Dr. Gene Edward Pollock, PhD, 85 of Wooster passed away Thursday, November 5, 2020. He was born November 27, 1934 in Coshocton to the late Samuel and Margaret (Calhoun) Pollock. He graduated from West Lafayette High School in 1952 and enlisted in the United States Army. He obtained the rank of sergeant while stationed at the Ravenna Arsenal during the Korean Conflict. He married Jean Elizabeth (Hackenbracht) on September 19, 1959 in the Cardington Methodist Church. He was a lifelong member of the Methodist Church. He received his Bachelor, Master, and Doctorate degrees from The Ohio State University. He started his career at the College of Wooster in 1961 where he was a Professor of Economics for 38 years. He enjoyed sabbatical leaves at University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, the University of Hawaii researching Kona Coffee production, and Oak Ridge National Laboratories in Oak Ridge, TN. He wrote and published a statistics book (Statistical Methodology) and coauthored a paper with sociology professor Dr. Atlee Stroup on the divorce study in the United States. He was interviewed by CBS News regarding the study. While in Hawaii, he also served on a consult mission for Economics and spending a week in America Somoa. He served as chair of the Economics Department at Wooster and on presidential committees. He was an avid Scots basketball fan and a member of Rebounders, a support group for the basketball team. He served as honorary coach multiple times and received the Rebounder of the Year award in 2019. After retirement he enjoyed weekly coffee with his retired colleagues “solving the world’s problems”. He and Jean loved traveling with their family and friends, enjoying numerous cruises, crossing Europe twice and driving across the United States after his retirement. He enjoyed the years on the farm in Holmes County and could often be found setting on the porch with his pets. In later years, he especially enjoyed his Thursday night calls with his granddaughter. In addition to his wife Jean, he is survived by his two sons, Michael Eugene Pollock of Wooster and William Robert (Jennifer) Pollock of Medina; his granddaughter, Megan Elizabeth Pollock of Medina; his siblings, Samuel James (Kathryn) Pollock of Beavercreek, Charles (Linda) Pollock of Huber Heights, Dennis (Harriett) Pollock of Fresno, CA, Earl (Georgianna Parisi) Pollock of Kettering, Mary Jakeway of Columbus; seven nieces and five nephews. Memorial contributions may be made in memory of Gene E. Pollock to The College of Wooster, Office of Advancement, 1189 Beall Avenue, Wooster, OH 44691 (https://www.woosteralumni.org/give/personal) or Lifecare Hospice 1900 Akron Rd, Wooster, OH 44691. A celebration of his life will be held in Wooster at a later date. Graveside Services will be held Tuesday, November 10, 2020 at 11 a.m. at Fairfield Cemetery in West Lafayette.