Randall Bush Pollard, 88, passed away Wednesday January 13, 2016 at Brandon Woods of New Bedford after a long illness.
Mr. Pollard enlisted in the Army in 1945 and served in Germany until his honorable discharge in 1948. He returned home and enrolled in the Engineering Department of then New Bedford Textile Institute, a founding institution of the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, in 1949, graduating with an Engineering Degree in 1953.
In 1951, Mr. Pollard married Gwendolyn Elaine Slyfield of Brooklyn, NY and they shared 47 years of marriage until her passing in 1998. Together they had six children, three who predeceased him including Brant Charles, who died in 1996, Nanepashemet (Anthony Edward) who died in 1995, and Randall Dean who died in 1956. He was a devoted father to his remaining children, Gregory Henry Pollard and lifelong companion Rose Gomes; Jon David Pollard and wife Carol, and Carol Elaine Pollard Ndeti and husband Muteti Ndeti; five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. Mr. Pollard also leaves behind two siblings Jean Evans and Anderson Pollard; a niece and two nephews and their families of California as well as a goddaughter of Naperville, IL and several cousins.
Mr. Pollard worked at the Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) in Newport, RI designing submarines and torpedoes until his retirement in 1982.
Mr. Pollard was a lifelong resident of New Bedford and proud to be the keeper of his family's historical legacy and family ties that connected him to several of the region's historical personalities including Paul Cuffee, Lewis Temple, and his grandfather James E. Reed. He delighted in sharing his knowledge of the history of the region with others and was a well-regarded historian for the Prince Hall Masons, the Union Lodge, as well as other organizations.
He was a respected elder of the Wampanoag Assonet Band, Board member of the New Bedford Historical Society and an active member of the Grace Episcopal Church.
In 2007, Mr. Pollard received an Alumni Award from UMass Dartmouth for his pioneering efforts as one of the first African American graduates in Engineering.
His Funeral Service will be held on Wednesday January 20, 2016 at 12 Noon at the Grace Episcopal Church. Burial in Rural Cemetery will be private. Visiting hours will be held on Tuesday January 19, 2016 from 4-7 PM at the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park St., New Bedford, with Masonic Services following at 7 PM. For directions and guestbook, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.