Obituary of Frank Martin Polasky

POLASKY, FRANK MARTIN passed away on Sunday, September 18, 2016, at Edgewood Assisted Living Center. He was born in Detroit, Michigan on October 17, 1926. He moved to Saginaw in 1936 when his father was offered a job with John Hancock Insurance. His family was active in resettlement of Jewish refugees from Europe, and often a call would come, a family would arrive, Frank would give up his bedroom to the family, and Frank would sleep on the couch. Frank attended the Saginaw Public Schools, graduating from Saginaw High in 1944. He immediately enlisted in the U.S. Air Force Reserve Program, spending nine months at Michigan State University in the reserve program, after which he entered U.S. Air Force Cadet Training. When World War II ended, he enrolled in the University of Michigan, graduating in 1948 with a Bachelor of Arts in economics and accounting. At U of M he met his first love, Betty Goldstone. They were married on August 29, 1948, in her hometown of Connellsville, Pennsylvania. Frank entered Detroit College of Law where in 1950 he earned a Juris Doctorate. He worked for the Internal Revenue Service until January of 1952 when he returned to Saginaw to enter the private practice of law, specializing in taxation, corporate, estate planning and real estate. Frank also was a licensed real estate broker and through his lifetime was involved in the development, ownership and management of several commercial real estate ventures in Saginaw, Traverse City, and Chicago. After several legal partnerships, Frank resumed a solo practice in 2004, with a staff of paralegals, some of whom had worked for him for over 50 years. During his legal career, Frank was a member of the State Bar of Michigan, American Bar Association, Saginaw County Bar Association, Federal Bar Association and the International Association of Jewish Lawyers and Jurists. The Saginaw County Bar Association recognized him in 1997 by awarding him the SCBA Community Service Award. He has been included in the newest edition of Top Lawyers of North America. A long time member of Saginaw Rotary, in recognition of his community involvement, Frank was named a Paul Harris Fellow of Rotary International. His support of Saginaw included serving on the Boards of (old) First State Bank, Second National Bank (Saginaw) and Tri-Star Trust Bank, helping start the Saginaw Gears, and serving as President of the Board of Saginaw General Hospital Foundation followed by time as a Board member of Covenant Healthcare Foundation. He was a Board member and Secretary of the Accident Fund of Michigan and Secretary/Director of the Eastern Michigan Regional Planning Commission. An active member of the Jewish community, he was a member of the original United Jewish Appeal Young Leadership Cabinet, serving on the cabinet for ten years, and went with Betty to Europe and Israel in 1958, carrying on his family tradition of philanthropy, where they witnessed refugees from the former Soviet Union landing in Austria and Israel. He was on the Board of Temple B'nai Israel and has served as President of the Jewish Welfare Federation of Saginaw for many years. For over sixty years Frank was a member of the American Legion Post 22 and a lifetime member of Jewish War Veterans of America. In addition to his practice of law, Frank was an avid stamp collector and a partner in Philatelic Appraisal Co. with his loyal partner and friend David Youngblade. He was also a long-time member of the Society of Israel Philatelists. In 1985 after thirty-seven years of marriage, his beloved Betty passed way. The next year he met the second love of his life, fellow attorney Frumeth Brenda Hirsh. She survives him. He is also survived by his daughter Dr. Diane H. Polasky of Albuquerque, NM, his son William Polasky (Lora) of Owosso, MI, his stepson, Jonathan Siegel (Sejin) of Seattle, WA, his sisters Marianne Smith of Bay City, and Linda Schiff Park of Loudon, TN, sister-in-law Anne Schiff of Kalamzoo, MI, and grandchildren Dr. Leryn Rose Doggett-Messori (Tyson), Benjamin, Betty Michelle (Alexandra), and Lydia Polasky, Hannah and Libby Siegel, great grandchildren Caidance and Chance Polasky, nieces and nephews, long-term loyal employee Willie Lee Johnson, and his dear canine companion Peaches. He was predeceased in death by his daughter Wendy Rae Good and grandson Zachary Polasky. The family extends its gratitude to the caring staff at Edgewood Assisted Living and to Frank's caregivers from A & D, especially Mark Canales and Shelley DeSanders. FUNERAL: The Funeral Service was held at 1:30 P.M. on Monday, September 19, 2016, at the Deisler Funeral Home, 2233 Hemmeter Road (off State), Saginaw, Michigan. Rabbi Yisroel Weingarten officiated. Burial took place in the Hebrew Cemetery of Saginaw. VISITATION: The family will get up from shiva on Sunday morning. MEMORIALS: In lieu of flowers, the family asks that contributions be made to the Jewish Welfare Federation of Saginaw, Chabad of Eastern Michigan, or Covenant Healthcare Foundation.