A self-reliant, strong woman who had a loving heart
MELROSE — At age 102, Sarah F. (Altieri) “Sally” Pollack, a longtime resident of Melrose, passed away peacefully on Sunday, December 25, 2022.
Born on October 16, 1920, Sally grew up in Wakefield, and raised her family of three children in Melrose. She worked for Filene’s as a salesclerk and later in hospitality for Harvard University and Norberg Caterers until retiring at age 63.
Mrs. Pollack was a member of the First Congregational Church for over 50 years where she was a regular and active volunteer. She served as a Sunday School teacher, volunteered for numerous events, and was active with Circle #18. Sally was also a member of the Women’s Club in Wakefield. In her free time, she enjoyed traveling throughout the world with family and was an avid golfer for many years.
Raised during the Great Depression, Sally was a self-reliant, strong woman with an incredible work ethic. She raised her three children as a single mother, worked three jobs, and maintained her generous, warm nature throughout. She served as a wonderful role model for her three generations of family, and inspired many with her selfless and loving heart. She lived an exemplary life of resourcefulness and a positive spirit – to those who knew her, it comes as no surprise that she drove herself around in her car well into her 90s. She was also generous with her warm and wonderful laugh. She will be deeply missed and always lovingly remembered.
Sally was the devoted mother of Diane L. Manganaro and her husband John of Melrose, David A. Pollack and his wife Deborah of Andover, and the late Donna J. McCarthy. Dear sister of the late Jerome Altieri, Elizabeth Blanks, Peter Altieri, and David Altieri. Loving grandmother of John McCarthy, Justin McCarthy, Jonathan Manganaro, Jacquelyn Manganaro-Fleming, Joshua Manganaro, Wendy Pollack, David Pollack, Jodi Pollack-Walker, Madelyn Pollack, and Alec Pollack. Loving great-grandmother of Crispin, Lucas, Bodhi, Penelope and Adaline and her dear niece, Kaye Altieri.
Relatives and friends were invited to gather in honor of Sally’s life at the First Congregational Church, 121 West Foster Street, Melrose, on Tuesday, January 3 at 10 a.m. Interment at Lakeside Cemetery, Wakefield.
Gifts in Sally’s memory may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or the Wounded Warrior Project, PO Box 758516, Topeka, KS, 66675-8516.
For online tribute, please visit RobinsonFuneralHome.com.
