Douglas “Doug” Pollard, facilities manager for the Health Sciences Learning Center (HSLC) and UW Medical Foundation Centennial Building (MFCB), died unexpectedly on Thursday, Jan. 26, at the age of 59. Doug was a member of the School of Medicine and Public Health community for more than 12 years and will be remembered as a thoughtful, warm, and kind colleague.
Doug was a steady and well-known presence at HSLC and MFCB. In his role as facilities manager, Doug oversaw the security, custodial, grounds, recycling, repairs, maintenance, and utility services of these buildings, ensuring they were safe and productive spaces for faculty, staff, and students to work and learn. These busy facilities have hundreds of offices and conference rooms. HSLC has heavily used instructional spaces and is home to Ebling Library for the Health Sciences.
“Our hearts are broken by the loss of our friend and teammate,” says Mark Wells, SMPH facilities director. “Just a few days ago he was updating me on his work projects and restoring a 260z. Blessings go out to his loved ones. I will miss you, Doug.”
An obituary for Doug can be found on the Gunderson Funeral Home website. A visitation will be held on Saturday, Feb. 4 from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at Gunderson Funeral Home on Monona Drive in Madison, with a memorial service beginning at 1 p.m. A reception will be held at the McFarland American Legion immediately following the service.
During his daily rounds to respond to a wide spectrum of requests from building occupants, he would often pop by a cubicle, classroom, or office to check in to see if people needed anything. It was characteristic for him to pause for a brief hallway chat, his cell phone beeping every few seconds as new requests came in. Doug always also kept in mind the needs of building visitors who attended events and activities in HSLC or passed through on their way to University Hospital, the Wisconsin Institutes for Medical Research, or other locations on the health sciences complex on west campus.
Doug handled the complexity and fast pace of his role with a can-do attitude and aplomb. On any given day, his tasks ranged from making sure that the HSLC Atrium was set up for a blood drive to ensuring that new employees had their workspace and Wiscard badge access set up, to reconfiguring cubicles and arranging for building repairs. Through this work, he never hesitated to use humor and kind words to brighten the day of his colleagues.
“Doug was such a wonderful member of the SMPH family,” says SMPH Dean Robert N. Golden, MD. “His smile warmed up the HSLC on the coldest days. He will be sorely missed.”
Doug contributed to initiatives critical to the success of the school, including the extensive renovations that took place in the Health Sciences Learning Center in 2017-18 to make the working and learning environments more useful and collaborative.
“Doug Pollard was a wonderful member of our SMPH community who truly embraced and always lived our values,” says Elizabeth Petty, MD, the school’s senior associate dean for academic affairs who often worked with Doug. “He advanced our mission and vision by consistently providing exemplary service and support. His thoughtfulness, responsiveness, kindness, integrity, creativity, and positivity was evident in all he did. It is incredibly hard and sad to imagine SMPH without Doug. My heartfelt condolences to all in our community who knew treasured Doug.”
The SMPH Facilities team is grateful for your support during this time. Should you have requests relating to HSLC or MFCB Facility Manager or maintenance issues, please contact Jess Hisel or complete a work order request.
If you would like to talk to someone confidentially about grief resources that are available, please call the Employee Assistance Office at (608) 263-2987 or visit www.eao.wisc.edu.
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Doug was such a strong part of the SMPH community. There are few people, in the many years that I have worked at SMPH, that will leave such a lasting memory. He was always kind, thoughtful and there whenever you needed help. We will miss Doug….his smile and conversation in the elevator or simply saying hello as he walked by your office.
“And when great souls die, after a period peace blooms, slowly and always irregularly. Spaces fill with a kind of soothing electric vibration. Our senses, restored, never to be the same, whisper to us. They existed. We can be. Be and be better. For they existed.”
Maya Angelou
Doug-you will be missed by so many at SMPH. I always looked forward to running in to you in the hallway for a friendly exchange. Your humor and positivity will be missed.
On my first day of work at SMPH, Doug proactively asked me where I parked and made sure that I had building access to Pharmacy so that I could get indoors as quickly as possible when weather was bad. That kind of thoughtfulness exemplifies who Doug was.
Doug was like a brother to me. Almost every day I seen him at MFCB or HSLC and we stopped and chatted even if only a minute or more 🙂 His smile and laughter will be truly missed but mostly his positive attitude. My heart is truly heavy hearing this news so I would like to send prayers and support to his family at this time. We lost a great teammate here at UW and he will be truly missed. Ruth
I only recently met Doug in person 2 weeks ago; putting a face to a phone call. He was so nice and helpful with a light sense of humor that I really wanted to meet him. He was every bit as fun to meet in person as on the phone. I caught him in his office during my daily walk-thru to CSC. I’m sure he was in the middle of something but he stopped and totally focused on our chat. He really did have a way of making you feel that he had all the time in the world just to help you. I’m very sad that I won’t get to see him again and my heart goes out to his colleagues, his family, and his friends. Thank you, Doug.
I knew Doug outside of work and our group of friends is missing him dearly. When I started at HSLC several years ago I was delighted to see him on a daily basis. Doug has always been a ray of sunshine from first thing in the morning to the last face I saw on my way out of the building. I will forever miss seeing his smile and hearing his caring and thoughtful voice! We will miss you Doug! God Speed!
I always enjoyed my chats with Doug. Being a dog lover, we swapped many stories. Doug was always a pleasure to work with and was willing to help whenever needed. I will miss his fun personality and seeing him around MFCB. Praying for his family and their loss.
Doug was my comic relief. He would walk through SMPH 4th floor on an ongoing basis. He would always say hello and had a smile as he walked by my cubicle. He will be missed : (
Rest in peace Doug.
You and I never had a same office or anything of that sort. Did not have any business meeting or whatsoever.
But we did share something special. Love of a particular Jade plant.
Had this picture of a Glorious and cherished Jade busking in the Sunlight in my home, snapped for you particularly circa Nov 2022. Walked by your cubicle numerous time, either I was busy or you were.
May your family find peace and support in this sad time.
My prayers go out to Doug’s family, friends and colleagues. I was always touched by Doug’s kindness and ready smile at work. In reading his obituary, I learned much about his life. I already knew he worked very hard in a demanding role, but he always made me feel like whatever I needed help with was a top priority at that time—then he would be on to the next top priority. Not many people can do that as well, nor as cheerfully, as Doug did. I hope he knew in his heart what a big difference he made for so many people.
Doug had the gift of focusing on the person he was with and still always responding in a very timely manner to other requests that came in. He never promised what he could not deliver and always did his best to keep the occupants of “his” buildings safe and comfortable. Doug knew so much about what was going on in HSLC and how to fix, adjust, or change whatever was causing your issue at that moment. His wealth of knowledge will be missed as others step up to fill the big shoes he has left behind.
We will miss you Doug. I am so sorry for the moments you did not get to have here on earth. I believe you are now in your heavenly reward.
My sympathy to the family and friends of Doug who will now have to build their new “happy moments” while coping with the loss of a dear man.
I always enjoyed talking with Doug when I was in HSLC. He was always friendly and open to a chat, both professional. I will miss seeing his smiling face when I’m at HSLC. The place just won’t be the same without his presence. I’m grateful to have gotten to spend a little time with him.
As a new employee, Doug was a tremendous resource in helping me get settled in at HSLC. After peppering him with a number of questions, I jokingly asked if he would seek shelter when he saw me coming his direction. He laughed…and showed up in my doorway the next morning to ask if there was anything he could do for me. He was unflappable and caring and will be greatly missed.
I will miss our many encounters in the halls. Always a smile, always friendly with a bit of hope that the rest of the day/week was going to be better. Much sympathy to family and friends.
It was always good to see Doug around – he was always smiling and joking, definitely a positive presence! He will be greatly missed.