John "Jack" T. Pollard

On the morning of February 25, 2025 John Thomas Pollard Jr. died peacefully in York (Maine) Hospital, after suffering a brief illness.  He was 99 years old.

John Thomas Pollard, Jr. was born in Chicago, Illinois on October 29, 1925 to parents John Thomas Pollard and Susan Kennedy Pollard. He was the second of two children; his sister, Bettye, was five years his senior. While his father was known as “John,” John Jr. became known as Jack.

The Pollard family was very involved in the ministry of a local church on 86th Street on Chicago’s south side.  At the age of nine, after hearing a gospel message stressing the imminent return of Jesus Christ, Jack was troubled.  He feared being left behind when Christ returned. His father kindly showed him Isaiah 53:5 and suggested that he put his name in the verse; “He was wounded for Jack’s transgressions, He was bruised for Jack’s iniquity, the punishment for Jack’s sin was upon Him and by His wounds Jack can be healed.” At that moment the Holy Spirit revealed to him that Jesus died for him and he believed in Jesus and trusted him for his salvation. From that moment on he sought to follow Christ and his faith became the lodestone of his life.

Jack enlisted in the Air Force after high school and was discharged after two years when World War 2 ended. He enrolled at the University of Illinois under the GI bill.  Although he and his freshman roommate, Harry, desired to pursue a career in medicine, they debated whether or not they were adequately equipped to go “pre-med.” Harry encouraged Jack with, “What’s the worst thing that could happen? We fail and have to do something else.” Both he and Harry were successful at gaining admission to medical school and after three years of pre-med, Jack entered the University of Illinois College of Medicine in Chicago.

During his second year at Medical School, Jack audited some classes at Emmaus Bible School in Chicago. It was there he met Nina Batstone and they fell in love. They were married in November 1950.

They eventually made their home in Lexington, Massachusetts where they raised their four children. Jack was invited to join a medical partnership specializing in radiology with Laurence Andreson and Jim Peterson. 

Jack and Nina served the Lord by helping establish Countryside Bible Chapel in Lexington, and were active in ministering to the Christians there as well as local outreach to the surrounding community. 

They were also very active in supporting the ministry of Camp Berea on Newfound Lake in New Hampshire, and Jack served as Chairman of the Berea board for several years.  

Jack loved the outdoors and learned to ski and sail as an adult. He shared these activities with family and friends which brought joy to all. 

Throughout their married life, Jack and Nina were interested in and supportive of missions.  In 1977, Jack arranged a six month sabbatical from his medical practice.  At that time, Jack and Nina traveled to Nazareth, Israel where Jack helped establish a new x-ray department at the Nazareth Hospital and also provided radiology services to another mission hospital on the West Bank.  It fulfilled a dream theirs to live in the Holy Land for a time and see first hand the land where the beautiful, redemptive story of the Bible took place. 

In his later years, Jack and Nina spent time as snowbirds in Florida during the winter months. They eventually moved to York, Maine where they lived their latter years. Jack was a devoted husband who faithfully took care of his wife, Nina, until she died on March 2, 2018.

Jack will be remembered for his faithful devotion to Christ, his love and care for his family and his zest for life abundant. 

Jack is survived by his children and their spouses; Jacqueline Carlson and husband Kim, Donald Pollard and wife Belinda, Douglas Pollard and wife Patty, Margaret Cunningham and husband David.12 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren (and counting), and numerous nieces and nephews.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of John "Jack" T. Pollard, please visit our floral store.