Helen S. Pollak

Born on October 21, 1932 to the late Hans and Marianne (Karplus) Schiller in Mannheim, Germany, Helen immigrated in 1937 to the United States along with her mother and sister to join her father, who had moved to New Jersey the previous year.

In addition to her husband, Helen is survived by her son Martin R. Pollak (spouse: Patricia Correa) and daughter Eleanor S. Pollak (spouse: Bruce L. Finkelstein) and grandsons Benjamin and Samuel Pollak. Other survivors include sister Gertrude Cohen and nieces Anne Cohen (David Bressler) and Linda (James) Weisberger.

In 1954, Helen received her undergraduate degree in music from the New Jersey College for Women (later renamed Douglass College of Rutgers University).

Barth, then a PhD Mathematics student at Princeton University met Helen at a dance in northern New Jersey. The couple wed on August 22, 1954 and soon after moved to Chicago where Helen received a Masters degree in education from the University of Chicago.

Helen started her career teaching elementary school students in Chicago (IL) and Syracuse (NY). After moving with her family to South Bend, IN she combined her interests by teaching music.

While devoting herself to raising her children, she began her own private studio before becoming a full-time employee of the South Bend School Corporation as well as an adjunct faculty member at St. Mary’s College and the music teacher at Sunday school at Temple Beth-El.

An accomplished musician, Helen sang as a charter member of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Chorus, played keyboard in the Syracuse [NY] Baroque Ensemble, and performed the piano, celeste, and harpsichord with the South Bend Symphony.

Both her children became dedicated amateur musicians and practicing physician-scientists.

Enthusiastically encouraging those with whom she interacted, she added grace and happiness to the world.

Helen will be buried in the Anshe Sfard Cemetery in West Roxbury, MA.

A service in celebration of Helen’s life will take place in the Spring of 2022 via an online platform

Donations may be made to the Helen Pollak Memorial Fund for Music Education through the Community Foundation of St. Joseph County, Inc. ( https://cfsjc.org/for-donors/give-now/ )