Phillip Andrew Pollard

Phillip Andrew Pollard, 44, of Richmond, VA passed away, October 29, 2011, after suffering a massive stroke. He was born October 27, 1967 at Fort Benning, GA, the son of Peggy Chandler and Raymond G. Pollard III of Huntington, WV. He was a teacher and musician. It was said that there are two kinds of people, those who loved Phil and those who hadn't yet met him. He was a joyous person who was a friend of everyone he knew and whose wide circle of friends stretched across the country.

Phil grew up in Harford County, MD and graduated from Edgewood High school in 1985. He was a member of the marching and jazz bands and lettered in football. He was also a graduate of Harford Community College where he performed in the jazz band. Phil was a member of the Baltimore Colts and Ravens marching bands. In one year at West Virginia University he was a member of the Blue and Gold marching band.

Phil was a teacher at Richmond Waldorf School and beloved by students and parents alike. He also taught at Harford Community College in Bel Air, Maryland and was teacher of the year in 1999 at Mount de Sales Academy in Baltimore, MD. He was the first and only male commencement speaker selected by the students at the all female school.

Phil was a graduate of Towson University, Towson, MD with a BS in English and of St. John's College, Annapolis, MD with a Masters in Liberal Arts. He also took graduate courses at multiple colleges.

Phil was a musician of considerable renown in both Knoxville, TN and Richmond, VA. His band, "Phil Pollard and The Band of Humans", was a hit in the Knoxville area and had its own following. He performed at multiple venues, including the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival, and was known in the Richmond area as one half of "The Slomski Brothers". He drummed with "Sarah Swabe and the Yankee Jazz Band", "Sean McCollough Band", and "The Bearded". The Knoxville radio station, WDVX, honored Phil by playing his music in an all day tribute on October 28.

Phil was the grandson of the late Denvil and Louise Chandler and the late Raymond and Mildred Pollard. In addition to his parents, he is survived by his wife, Dawn Ann Beltz Pollard, and their three daughters, Eleanore Beltz Pollard, Anna Walters Pollard and Theodora McCoy Pollard, all of Richmond. He is also survived by his brother Patrick Pollard and wife Kristin of Bel Air, MD, sister Marielle' Madden and husband Scott of Huntington, WV, father-in law Ivan Beltz and wife Donna Davis of Knoxville, TN, brother-in-law Bradford Beltz of St. Josephs, MI, stepbrother-in-law Brett Winston and wife Kelly of Knoxville, TN, and stepbrother-in-law Trent Winston of Knoxville, TN. Phil is also survived by many nieces and nephews who adored him.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to his daughters' education fund. Checks should be made to Ivan Beltz, 3528 Navigator Point, Knoxville, TN 37922, Memo: Pollard Girls Education Fund.