Dr. Michael M. Pollard

As some of you may or may not know, this past weekend Dr. Michael M Pollard passed away. He was a professor and researcher at York University. He was also my professor for Organic Chemistry this past fall.

He was a really enthusiastic professor. He always came to class excited about teaching organic chemistry, even though the lot of us weren't thrilled to be learning it. I remember his first class, at the beginning of the term, where he started the lecture with an intro to Organic Chemistry and then introduced himself. I laughed when he told us 'Chemist's don't have good sense of humor.' I completely agree with that.

Over the term I don't think I ever saw him in a bad mood. He always came with a smile and tried his best to make sure we understood the material. He let us ask questions during lecture, and once or twice there would be a whole hour spent on just answering our questions. He didn't have to do this, but he was kind and he cared about our education enough to help us out. It didn't matter how many times the same question was asked, he would still answer in a patient manner until he was sure we got the concept. During tutorials, he would make his own questions and really help us apply the theory we learned to answer the questions. He must have spent a lot of time in doing so, and only now can I really appreciate it.

Although I didn't really have much contact with him, the time I went to his office to pick up a test is something I don't forget. When I entered his office, he asked if I thought I had done well. I didn't actually answer that...instead I blurted out 'I studied really hard for the last two weeks.'...he chuckled as he looked for my test. Upon seeing it, I saw the look on his face...I knew I didn't do well...that much must have shown when he handed me the test and tried to lessen the blow by saying the mark would probably go up after adjustments were made. He told me if I didn't understand something I was welcome to come and ask him. At the time I promised myself I would, and that I would make sure to do better...I didn't go. Now, I really wish I had taken advantage of this and gained from his knowledge.

Most of us will remember the rare occasion when his phone rang during tutorial! Professor Pollard had a few rules in class and one of them was that cell phones should be on silent or turned off. It's not asking much...even I dislike ring tones going off while a professor is teaching. Anyway, after our lecture he told us that for penance he would set up a tutorial during exam week. Again, he didn't have to do this...but he did; and it really helped me.

It's really hard to think that I saw him a few weeks ago and now next year he won't be teaching. The next class won't get to experience his animated style of teaching. Walking up and down the aisles trying to connect with the students. There won't be another time such as when he walked up the aisle out of sight and there was silence for a while, and us collectively turning our heads to see what was up; only to find him trying to stifle his laughter at finding a sleeping student.

There will always be mechanisms and concepts (such as Grignard reactions) that I learned which I will always associate with Professor Pollard, just like I associate Ozonolysis and Epoxidation with Professor Leznoff.

I suppose many of us think of professors as these superhuman beings; that they'll be there until the end of time...or at least until we're finished with school. It's not until they leave us, that we think of all the ways we could have bettered ourselves and learned more from them; gaining from their knowledge and expertise, but also learned about them as people.

Thank you Dr. Pollard for sharing your knowledge and time, and teaching me Organic Chemistry. Thanks for the kindness and patience, the tutorial before the winter exam, and always answering questions in class. It's professors like you that have kept students like me from giving up. I'm glad I got the opportunity to be in your class. You will be missed.

~Andene