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Obituary of Catherine B. Pollari
Catherine (Cathy) B. Pollari died early Thursday morning, March 6, at Harbor Hill in Belfast.
She was born on July 11, 1939, in Lexington, Virginia, the daughter of Helen Marion and Lewis Roy Smith of Natural Bridge, where she graduated from high school. She continued her education at Virginia Polytechnic Institute, earning a Bachelor of Science degree (with honors) in home economics. At first she followed her mother's footprints as a home demonstration agent in rural Virginia but later went on to earn a Master of Education degree from the University of Virginia. She was a "special ed" teacher for a while in Lynchburg, Virginia, but moved back to Charlottesville to work with the University in various positions -- including library assistant in the School of Education. She also married Edwin Barbour of Charlottesville, a marriage which ended in separation and divorce on mutual terms several years later.
When on her own again Cathy decided to become a full-fledged librarian and went to the University of Maryland's College of Library and Information Services and graduated with a Master of Library Science degree. While there, she met her second (and last) husband Bill.
When Bill later secured his first professional library position in Raleigh, North Carolina, he asked her to join him and they married in Charlottesville in May, 1978. She soon was hired as Reference Librarian by Campbell College (now University) and later by the Textile School at North Carolina State University in Raleigh--again, as Reference Librarian.
In 1985, in order to be in closer touch with her aging parents, Cathy applied for and gained a position with Hampden-Sydney College in Farmville, Virginia (also as Reference Librarian). Bill followed her this time -- close behind!
Cathy and Bill both retired in 2002 and moved to Maine where Cathy had worked for a summer in a special ed setting and where they had vacationed yearly since the early 80's. They both managed to get part-time jobs in Searsport -- he at Carver Library and she with the Penobscot Marine Museum -- until 2020 when they settled in to relax in their Belfast home.
Cathy loved dogs, cats, lemony desserts and sauces (she was an excellent cook!), solving crossword puzzles and reading mysteries and E. B. White. She will be greatly missed. Following her wishes, there will be no services.
Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at www.ripostafh.com
