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Paula graduated from Weaver High School, attended Hartford College for Women and earned a bachelor’s degree in French and English from Connecticut College for Women in 1943. While in college, Paula worked as a secretary at G Fox and Company.
In 1943, Paula met and married the late Dr. Charles Polivy. During WWII, Paula and Charles were stationed in Orlando, Florida. While in Orlando, Paula worked as Medical Secretary for Orange Memorial Hospital. After Charles was released from WWII service, they moved to New York City where he completed his surgical residency. After his residency, they moved to West Hartford, Connecticut.
In 1952, Paula was elected president of the Hartford College Alumnae Association. Paula was active for many years with the Mount Sinai Hospital Women’s Auxiliary and served as President. She was also a board member of the Hebrew Home for the Aged for several years.
Paula and Charles were one of the first family members of Beth El Temple in West Hartford when it was founded in the early 1950’s. Paula was passionate about art and an avid collector of prints, drawings and glass. She was instrumental in launching and organizing the annual Beth El art show. Over the years, she was active in many other Beth El programs and sponsored the highly popular annual Chai Society summer music picnic.
Paula loved to learn and enrolled at the University of Hartford to get her Masters degree after sending her eldest child off to college. In 1968, Paula received her Masters degree in Teaching.
Paula furthered her interest in art and teaching as a member of the second docent class at the Wadsworth Athenaeum in Hartford. She provided enthusiastic service and support to the Athenaeum for over forty years.
Paula’s love of the arts included long time support for the Hartford Stage Company, Shakespeare at Stratford and the Hartford Symphony. She and Charles enjoyed taking their children and grandchildren to Broadway plays. They also enjoyed traveling both internationally and domestically. As devoted grandparents, their most enjoyable trips were those that included their beloved grandchildren.
Paula is survived by her three children and their families, Richard and his wife Dr. Deborah Kaplan Polivy of Bloomfield, Connecticut, Dr. Kenneth Polivy and his wife Linda Grossman Polivy of Waban, Massachusetts, and Karen Polivy of Mill Valley, California and six grandchildren, David, Rebecca, Daniel, Adam, Emily and Elana, and their spouses Pam, Omer, Rebecca, Lindsey and Aaron, and five great grandchildren, Elysheva, Adina, Shoshana, Amir and Charley.
Special mention and thanks are extended to Julia Manu, Kinga Skawinski, Carnetta Ellis, Erica Livingstone and Teresa Musial for their loving and dedicated care.
Funeral services will be held at 1:00 PM on Thursday, April 16, 2015 in the Chapel of the Weinstein Mortuary, 640 Farmington Ave., Hartford with Rabbi James Rosen and Rabbi Stanley M. Kessler officiating. Interment will follow in Beth El Temple Cemetery, Jackson St. Ext., Avon. A memorial period will be observed Thursday following the interment and from noon through 5 PM on Friday at the home of her son and daughter-in-law, Richard and Deborah Polivy, 24 High Hill Rd., Bloomfield. Shiva will continue on Sunday from 2 PM through 8PM at the home of Dr. Kenneth and Linda Polivy, 120 Gordon Road, Waban, Massachusetts. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Beth El Temple, the Hartford Jewish Federation Endowment Fund or a charity of the donor’s choice.
For further information, directions, or to sign the guest book for Paula, please visit online at www.weinsteinmortuary.com/funerals.cfm.
