In Memoriam
Ann Lemons Pollack
(1945-2022)
On Wednesday, April 13, 2022, Ann Lemons Pollack died from complications of a fall at her home in Clayton, Missouri. When the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and other local publications reported news of Ann’s passing, many were shocked. How could someone as feisty and full of life as Ann leave us so soon? Not only did the St. Louis entertainment and restaurant community lose an advocate, but the St. Louis Media History Foundation unexpectedly lost an active and well-respected Board Member. Beyond anything, though, we all lost a dear friend.
Ann joined our Foundation Board shortly after her husband and founding St. Louis Media History Board member and St. Louis Post-Dispatch critic Joe Pollack passed away in 2012. The two married in 1994 and shared a passion for food and entertainment, and St. Louis institutions.
Ann was a tireless believer in the work of our Foundation and helped establish a college scholarship in the name of her late husband, Joe. Preserving media and sharing the stories of the men and women who work in media was as important to her as a good Sunday brunch or remembering a historic St. Louis chef or restaurant. She authored two books, Lost Restaurants of St. Louis and Iconic Restaurants of St. Louis as well as co-authored three guidebooks with Joe about local St. Louis restaurants. She was also a frequent contributor to St. Louis Magazine, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Sauce Magazine, Ladue News, and New Orleans Menu, where she got her start as a food critic while still working as a nurse.
Her wit, drive, concern, connections, and knowledge of St. Louis were a major contribution to our nonprofit organization. Ann was one of those Board members that we could make any request of, and she would happily (well mostly) comply. During our many St. Louis Media Hall of Fame dinners and our fundraising Winners Dinner at 1111 Mississippi, it was Ann who helped set the menu. Her knowledge of epicurean delights was invaluable. She helped curate one of our first exhibits at the Karpeles Manuscript Library in 2016 entitled Food in the Media. When our archives risked extensive damage during the Karpeles Manuscript Library fire of 2019, Ann volunteered her garage as a storage facility. When it came time to move furniture or acquire furniture, Ann was an able and willing participant. We will certainly miss her knitting and comments during Board meetings and her presence welcoming Hall of Fame inductees and guests during our annual Hall of Fame ceremonies. Ann was also instrumental in organizing and spearheading our first Trivia Night scheduled for September 24, 2022.
Ann is preceded in death by her husband Joe Pollack in 2012 and is survived by Joe’s family as well as her son Terry and daughter Jennifer and four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. According to her family, a memorial service will be held this summer. Rest assured, we will be raising a toast in her honor.
Ann’s family has requested that donations to her memory be made to the St. Louis Media History Foundation among other charities that were special to Ann. We are humbled and honored that through your donations we can pay tribute to Ann and continue the work that meant so much to her. Please click on the button to make a memorial contribution. In the meantime, Ann please save us all a seat at the table and enjoy the main course. We look forward to visiting with you again.
Sincerely,
Your Friends at the St. Louis Media History Foundation
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