Joe Pollack

By now many of you gentle readers will have heard our sad news. My dear Joe has left us, far more quietly than was his usual style.

I am stunned by the sheer volume of condolence messages, kind words and compliments this has caused in the community of people interested in food, wine, theater, film, journalism and the occasional wisecrack. When he retired from the Post-Dispatch, there were many good wishes and a fabulous multi-chef dinner. (Thanks, guys. He still talked about that.) But the fellow with the big ego turned to me one day in the car and said, rather quietly but with a clear note of astonishment, "They really do like me." What our family is seeing now is far larger than that, geometrically larger.

When I married Joe, I sometimes said I felt like I won the lottery. I continued to feel that way, except for the occasional 20 minutes or so, right up to the wee hours of Friday morning, and indeed I still do. Joe had a swell time in life, and I was lucky to be invited along for the last part of the ride. In all honesty, I cannot say exactly what I will do with St. Louis Eats, but I do intend to continue once we get past the immediate situation. Almost certainly things will return more closely to our original focus that's reflected in the name.

We are having a memorial service on the Mainstage of the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis this Saturday, March 17, at 11 a.m. That being St. Patrick's Day, no saloon, which an old friend pointed out would be Joe's venue of choice, is available, unfortunately. ("Amateur drinkers," Joe would have muttered.) But we will try to explain to ourselves and to our beloved younger generation just who this guy was.

-Ann

Comments

[Jay Brandt]

The sad, sad news made it to us here in Kentucky and I was shocked and saddened. One thinks there will always be time for another glass of wine. It was an honor and a great pleasure to know Joe...he was kind, fair, witty and always fun and educational to spend time with.

Yep Joe...we really do like you!
Ann, I'm so very sorry for your...and all of our...loss. So, while I can't be in St. Louis on Saturday, we'll raise a glass of fine red wine here in Kentucky and toast a life well lived!
Jay

[Harley Hammerman]

When Joe was theater critic for the Post-Dispatch, he interviewed me about my O'Neill collection. I can picture him sitting in our living room, munching on chocolate chip cookies my wife had baked. I still have his interview hanging on my wall. Goodbye Joe. We'll miss you.

[Judi Mann]

Yes, Ann, he WAS liked. He was loved. He was kind and gentle and funny and there will be a permanent void in our theater community. God bless and keep you.
Judi Mann

[Nupur]

I just wanted to say that I am very sorry for your loss, Mrs. Pollack.

[Linda]

Many thoughts and prayers with your family. I'll never forget the first theater review Joe wrote about my brother. He will be missed!

[Don Dunn & Kerstin Trone]

Dear Ann, No, I hadn't heard and was stunned to get the sad news this way after clicking on a link...so unexpected, so suddenly changing an ordinary morning into something so morose. As a friend whose days with Joe go 'way 'way 'way back, I'll try to keep my mind filled with those so-many days I knew him when he was joyful, when sports and food and drink and love were all going well, as they have been all those years he's known you.

[barb ostmann]

Dear Ann, I was very sad to hear the news. Joe was a larger-than-life character, and touched so many people. He will be sorely missed. Keeping you in my prayers, barb ostmann

[Andrea Braun]

Ann, thanks for this post. I've not sent my condolences yet, and this doesn't seem like a very personal way to do it, but do know that my sympathy for you and sadness for all of us are, indeed, personal See you at the send-off; meanwhile I'll be thinking of you and Joe, as I have been all week, with love, and gratitude for your friendship. --Andrea

[Andrea Torrence]

I'm so grateful for the time I was able to spend with him and you. Joe was like a legend to me, and I will sorely miss him saying, "Sit down over here, kid!". Anything I can do, I'll do.
Thoughts and prayers with you, Ann.

[Linda R.]

So sad to hear about Joe's passing. I have enjoyed reading his various reviews over the years and will most certainly miss his wit and wisdom.

[Judy Scheer]

Joe was expertly passionate, intelligent and that rare of rarest qualities in a critic, kind... a legendary and irreplaceable presence who helped inform and shape the cultural fabric of St. Louis. I still have the reviews he wrote from work I did in St. Louis theater. We will sorely miss him. My condolences to you, Ann.

[Serkes, JL]

I met joe when I wrote a farce about football with Joan Lipkin. Oh, I had always read his columns, seen him around, but we had never met. Once we had, it was fun. I started to see him everywhere and we became spot fans. No one could ever think a guy like Joe could leave, vanish, be away, not be seen. It happens. I send STL my heart tonight, and mostly to you his lovely wife. I used to see he and you when I walked my beautiful labrador Gus, and I am quite sure that one or twice Joe saw him crap on the lawn, and never said a word to me. Ha.

[Jay V. Hall]

I only knew Joe Pollack with Ann at his side eating and seeing theatre all over Saint Louis. In my 10 years in the city, I first fell in love with his KWMU quick reviews of local theatre. The sound of his voice and delivery hooked me to find out more!
Although my heart is sad at the moment, I remember that he lived a life full of activity and people. It appeared to be a charmed life. I hope to emulate Joe more... endearing and inquisitive. That would bring happiness to my life. Thank you, Joe. Rest In Peace.

[Lynn Venhaus]

Dear Ann,
What a wonderful reflection on your husband. I enjoyed getting to know you and Joe the past 12 years. He was an inspiration and a mentor to many of us, more than he ever knew. He treated us as equals. There are many qualities to like, but his activism was indeed admirable. My thoughts and prayers are with you. The St. Louis Film Critics Assn. is planning a fitting tribute to our revered colleague. I will see you Saturday.
So very sorry for your loss.

[Erin Hentz]

Ann, I was so saddened to hear of your loss last week. I always enjoyed working with Joe when I was at the Fox. Seeing you & him at the shows was always a treat. You are in my thoughts and prayers during this difficult time. Everything I've read about Joe tells me he lived a great life; Rest in peace Joe. And to the family he left behind, may you all find peace.

[Les Pheil]

Ann, I just wanted you to know that my heart will be with all of you later today.. I too, was charmed by Joe when I met him last spring and thought that there would be more visits in our future.. Take care and I hope to see you in the near future.

[rebecc]

May the memory of your husband remain eternal.

[Mary Samuelson]

Dear Ann,
I was extremely sorry to hear about Joe's passing. While I never actually met either of you (or at least I didn't know who you were when I met the two of you), you and Joe reviewed my little restaurant in Shaw and were very kind. I got a huge kick out of his comment about the okra and actually replied to it on the blog. I don't know if yall ever made it back to ask for the southern fried okra, but I hope if you did you enjoyed it. Not being a native of St. Louis, I'm not much in touch with the food culture or who's who in the industry, and being the owner of a small restaurant ensures that I never get a chance to watch the news so I just heard about Joe. I apologize for the belated condolences, but I want you to know that the kind words you and your husband wrote about my mom's recipes warmed my heart and I am forever grateful to both of you for taking the time to write about such a small, hole in the corner kind of place. I'm glad that you plan to continue the work the two of you so obviously enjoyed. My prayers are with you.