Bernice Poll's Obituary
Poll, Bernice Gotkin (Bunny) of Tucson, AZ, passed away peacefully on January 14, 2019 at the age of 92. Wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, educator, poet, writer, and political activist, Bunny was born in Newark, N.J. on September 5, 1926. She grew-up in Newark, graduation from Weequahic High School as Valedictorian. She attended NYU on a Bamberger Medal Scholarship graduating with a B.A. in Social Studies. She received two MBS’s in Arts and Education from Seton Hall University and attained a PHD in Educational Psychology from Florida Institute of Technology. She was an educator most of her working life, first as a Social Studies teacher at Clinton Street Junior Hugh School and then as an English, Social Studies and Guidance Counselor at East Side H.S. in Newark. After receiving her Doctorate, she became the Assistant Director of the Bureau of Child Guidance for the Board of Education, Newark. In retirement she taught psychology at Middlesex Community College. She lived most of her adult life with her husband, Al and two children, Jeffrey and Candide in West Orange, N.J. While in West Orange she was a member of the Essex County Democratic County Committee for nearly 25 years. Ultimately she left N.J. for sunny AZ with Al, settling in Sun City, Vistoso, Oro Valley. During her retirement she became a published short story writer and poet. She leaves behind a brother, Mitch Gotkin; a son, Jeffrey Poll; daughter in law, Aimee Poll; grandsons, Gregory and Jarrett Poll; and two great grandchildren, Isaac and Talia Poll. Donations in her memory may be made to the Jewish Family & Children’s Services or to the charity of your choice.
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