Nicholas Peter Pollis

Nicholas Peter Pollis “Nick” was born into an immigrant Greek family in Washington Heights, NYC, on November 29, 1928. His father was an importer of Greek foods. At that time, the Heights was a Greek and Jewish neighborhood. Nick enjoyed stickball and loved going to classical, big band, and jazz performances by era greats. Summer jobs included being a busboy at Evan’s Kiamesha Hotel in the Catskills’ Borscht Belt and a scene painter at the Museum of Science and Industry in Rockefeller Center. The latter job was notable because he was fired!

Nick’s 97 years were filled with many memorable adventures.

He graduated from the Bronx High School of Science in 1945 and enlisted in the U.S. Army to get the GI Bill. The Army trained him as a medic, and he spent 18 months in Northern Italy. This pivotal experience left an indelible impression on him.

Up next was getting a B.A. in Psychology and Political Science at the Johns Hopkins University in 1951. With a degree and medic training, he got a job as a laboratory technician (1951-1955) at Spring Grove State Hospital, Baltimore, MD. This was before deinstitutionalization arrived.

Nick was then off to Norman, OK, to study with Muzafer Sherif, a prominent social psychologist, where he received a Ph.D. in Social Psychology at the University of Oklahoma (1964). After a year on the faculty at Bethany College in W.V., he joined the Psychology faculty at Oklahoma State University and built a Ph.D. program in social psychology.

He married the love of his life and wife of 59 years, Carol (Jensen) Pollis, in 1967. His children were the focus of continuous mini adventures, with a daughter from a prior marriage and two children with Carol. He especially enjoyed playing chess, tennis, and ping pong with them as well as traveling, going on walks, and to movies.

He spent most of his academic career as a Professor of Urban Studies and Psychology at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, a new university with an innovative mission focused on interdisciplinary education. He published many research articles on reference groups and intergroup relations.

Nick spent the past 20 years in Madison, WI, where he made many friends and acquaintances. He had stories to spare and enjoyed sharing them and hearing others’ stories. During this time, he also spent a lot of time in Greece where he put his Greek to fine use.

Nick left this world on March 15, 2026. Staff at Agrace Hospice in Fitchburg provided excellent end-of-life care in a peaceful environment.

Nick had an amazing life and lived through and with so many big societal and world changes. And he kept his great sense of humor and quick wit to the end.

He will live forever in the hearts of his wife, Carol; daughter and son-in-law, Adele Pollis (Robert Menicocci); son Aron Pollis; and daughter, Kirsten Pollis. His spirit is now free to roam.

He did not want a service.

Cress Funeral & Cremation Service

3610 Speedway Rd      Madison

608-238-3434