Coach: Pollina retiring after 22 years with Glenview Park District

This story begins when he was 2 years old. It ends now at 55.

A "love story" of sorts, which except for a few brief stops along the way, takes place entirely in his beloved hometown of Glenview.

Retiring assistant director of recreation for the Glenview Park District Joe Pollina has grown up and raised his family in Glenview, and, yes, he definitely got an early start.

"I was preschooler at Manor Park Fieldhouse at the age of 2," Pollina said. " I guess you could say I got indoctrinated early in park district programs and kind of went through all the Glenview growing up steps from there."

Grade school, junior high and on to Glenbrook South went Pollina, where besides a "stellar" academic career (not confirmed), he was also a four-year member of the Titans baseball team.

It was his love of sports, and his experience in Glenview, that led him to pursue a recreation management major at Eastern Illinois University. During that time, he did a field work study program for the Glenview Park District.

"It was a great experience," Pollina said. "That really cemented my desire for going into recreation. I worked with a variety of sports programs, helped with camps, and got involved with the Fourth of July planning. Loved it all!"

It was, then, right after college, when we (Glenview) "lost" Pollina for a few years.

His first job out of school was at the Roselle Park District, and then it was on to a longer stint in Glencoe, where he became somewhat of a fixture. But you can't keep a good man down, and you also can't keep a good man away from the hometown he loves so much.

"I always had my eye on coming back to Glenview," Pollina said, "and when a position opened up, I decided to check it out. It was about the time they were building our brand new Park Center. I toured around and saw how amazing it was going to be, and I already knew the area so well. I decided if they offered me the job, I would take it."

They did - and he did.

It began the start of what became a 22-year run as a full-time employee for the park district. First as supervisor of athletics and outdoor programs, then as manager of Program Services, and finally promoted to assistant director of recreation.

Over those long years, Pollina has influenced numerous programs, from camps to special facilities to adult softball to youth sports programs, and just about everything in between.

He was there with the influx of kids when the Glen was built, ("we called it the 'bubble,' and it really changed a lot of our programming," Pollina said), and he, along with then Village President Jim Patterson, started the Glenview 3v3 Soccer Fest, which now has grown to 126 teams and nearly 500 kids participating.

He also oversaw many youth sports programs, including a major change in the flag football league, which many of the coaches did not like initially.

"We switched from 9-on-9 with blocking and running to 5-on-5 passing only, mainly to give more kids an opportunity to see the ball. The coaches were not too happy at first, but we said to give it a try, and sure enough, after a game or two, most of them really liked the change."

Pollina has also seen a little bit of a resurgence of the youth sport house leagues after some down years.

"Travel teams and club sports have definitely taken away from some of the local house league programs," he said. "But we are starting to see a trend reverse and our house league numbers are climbing back up."

Whatever the assignment, whatever the program, Pollina has approached it all with an easygoing, friendly attitude that has endeared him to the community.

"Loved it all!" he said, "and I am really going to miss the people I work with. That, I think, will be the hardest thing about leaving."

His retirement date is Sept. 5. Almost 22 years to the day when he was first hired.

Pollina will stay in Glenview, where he and his wife Dawn have raised three girls.

"I will take it slow for a bit. Maybe do a little bit of traveling. But I will still be involved in Glenview (he is and will continue to be a Kiwanis Club member), and then probably look at some potential business opportunities."

It should be noted he won't entirely be leaving the park district. Pollina has been a near lifelong competitor in the adult softball leagues, beginning in his high school years and continuing to this day.

Sadly (or proudly), the once 2-year-old Glenview preschooler is now a participant in the 50 and over "old men's" league.

Time can be not so kind sometimes.

And speaking of time, thanks for all of yours, Joe, over so many years. You have truly made a difference.

• Jon Cohn of Glenview is a coach, retired PE teacher, sports official and prep sports fan. To contact him with comments or story ideas, email jcsportsandtees@aol.com.