Patricia (Dittberner) Pollock
Patricia “Pat” Pollock, whose upbeat personality and can-do spirit lit up every room she ever entered, and inspired and encouraged all those who surrounded her, departed this Earth on February 25, 2017 in North Carolina after a long illness. She was 72 years old.
A natural leader, Pat had the ability to see both the big picture and the smallest details, while keeping a sense of humor and a common-sense perspective. This ability served her well throughout her life as she built a successful career in magazine editing and communications; enjoyed a 48-year marriage with her husband, Hank; raised her sons, Michael and Kelly; and enjoyed warm, life-long friendships.
Pat was born on November 7, 1944 to N.R. “Ditt” and Emily “Em” Dittberner of White Bear Lake, Minn. She attended St. Mary’s grade school and was in the first class of Archbishop Murray Memorial High School. After earning a bachelor’s degree in home economics from the University of Minnesota, she headed for Des Moines, Iowa to become associate food editor at Meredith Publishing’s Better Homes and Gardens. Shortly afterward she met Hank Pollock, and they were married on May 11, 1968.
Over the next 25 years, Pat’s career continued to rise at Meredith as she took on increasingly more responsible positions, including food and entertainment editor, Apartment Life; home entertainment editor, Better Homes and Gardens; associate furnishings editor, Decorating Ideas; senior furnishings editor, Meredith Special Interest Publications Division, and managing editor, Meredith Publishing Services, all while raising two young sons in a bustling household.
Pat continued her career as Hank’s work took them across the country. While in Buffalo, N.Y. she managed The Cooking School for Tops Markets before becoming publications editor in the office of admissions for the University at Buffalo. After moving to Mooresville, N.C., she continued to work as a freelance writer and consultant, generating concepts for books, magazines, catalogs and brochures. She was active in many organizations including the Newcomers Club in Mooresville.
Wherever her work or family took her, Pat maintained strong, fun-loving friendships across the country. Wherever she went, she was always the person everyone wanted at their party, bringing her finely tuned sense of humor and personalized attention to others along with her. She was an accomplished cook, enjoyed contemporary art and furnishings of all kinds, and did everything in life with her own innate sense of style.
When it came to her family, she was everyone’s advocate, champion and chief cheerleader. Whatever happened in our lives, no matter how wonderful or how dire, Pat was there for us, always, no matter what. She will be in our hearts forever.
Her parents, N. R. and Emily Dittberner, preceded Pat in death. She is survived by her husband, Hank Pollock, Huntersville, N.C.; son Michael (Kelly) Pollock and grandchildren Carly and Colin Pollock, Chapel Hill, N.C.; son Kelly (Dre) Pollock, Minneapolis, Minn.; brother Jerry (Mary Kay) Dittberner, Springfield, Va.; and sister Cindy (Rick) Matson, Edina, Minn. Also survived by niece Colleen (Bob) Spears and their children Tommy and Robby, Acton, Calif.; nephew Matt Dittberner, Springfield, Va.; niece Brigitte Dittberner, Washington D.C.; niece Erin Matson (Will Johnson) and their daughter, Winifred Jette Johnson, Arlington, Va.
Mass of Christian Burial, 11:30 a.m. Saturday, June 17, 2017 at St. Mary of the Lake Church, 4741 Bald Eagle Ave., White Bear Lake. Visitation one hour prior to Mass. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to The Bryan Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, 2200 W. Main St., Suite A-200, Durham, NC 27705.