Fred Pollock

Fred Pollock, 78, passed away peacefully after a brief illness on Friday, June 12, 2026, surrounded by his loved ones at Aventura at Creekside in Carbondale.

Born in Carbondale on July 21, 1947, he was the son of the late Fred Pollock Sr. and Martha Petrilak Pollock. He was a graduate of Lakeland High School, Class of 1965, and went on to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Education from Millersville University in 1969. He later earned a Master’s degree in Special Education from the University of Scranton in 1971.

Fred taught special education, primarily remedial reading, through NEIU-19 in Mayfield for 30 years before retiring. Unlike many teachers, he did not spend his summers relaxing. Instead, he worked full-time as both a contractor alongside his brother, David, and as a groundskeeper at the family homestead, Skyline Golf Course.

Fred was energetic and always on the go. He never missed his children’s extracurricular activities and enjoyed walking; there was almost no distance too far for him to travel.

He loved sports, including the Pittsburgh Steelers and Detroit Tigers, but his greatest athletic passion was unquestionably Carbondale Area Charger basketball. Watching the Chargers win the 1993 Pennsylvania State Championship was one of his proudest memories. He never missed a game and never passed up an opportunity to encourage, support, and hype up the players, earning him the nickname “Crazed Dog.”

Fred is survived by his son, Ryan Pollock of Peckville; his daughter, Courtney Goldovich and her husband, Richard, of Archbald; his brother, David Pollock of Greenfield Township; four grandchildren, Julia, Richard, Austyn, and Abygail; and one great-granddaughter, Anna.

Family and friends are invited to attend Fred’s viewing on Thursday, June 18, 2026, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Lawrence A. Gabriel Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Inc., 74 N. Main St., Carbondale. Funeral services will follow at 7 p.m. Cremation will take place afterward.

To offer an online condolence, please visit the funeral home’s website or Facebook page.

Fred’s family would like to express their sincere gratitude to the staff of Aventura at Creekside for the exceptional care they provided over the past several years. They became much more than a care team—they became family.