I began my career at a large accounting firm. When it came time to move on, I walked into HR to give the customary two‑week notice. Without missing a beat, the HR manager reached into a drawer and handed me a thick, meticulously organized exit checklist—everything from returning my office keys to reviewing COBRA options.

At the time, it felt cold and mechanical, like I was being processed off an assembly line. But looking back, I can appreciate the efficiency of it.

At Jewish Federation, we are… not quite that efficient. We don’t have an exiting process, much less a master checklist. It simply doesn’t happen often enough to justify creating one. For most Federation employees, this isn’t just a job—it’s a calling. Tenure is measured not in years, but in decades.

And so it was for Linda Pollack, who retired at the end of May after a remarkable twenty years with the Federation.

Linda joined us in 2007, bringing with her a rich background in teaching, sales, and promotion. She stepped into the role of Director of Women’s Philanthropy, and after the passing of our friend and her mentor, Dan Flax, she took on the leadership of our annual campaign.

Linda spent her career in constant motion—always thinking, always creating, always searching for the next idea that might help us raise more money for our community. Not every idea was a winner, but she fearlessly brought new ones forward nearly every single day. Mondays were especially lively, because Linda had the entire weekend to brainstorm.

While I’m gently teasing her tenacity, the truth is that Linda did generate some of our most successful and beloved programs: community-wide events, day trips, volunteer opportunities, and a lineup of extraordinary speakers, just to name a few. She knew how to bring people together.

Linda, thank you for giving us twenty years of passion, creativity, and unwavering commitment. Your mission‑driven determination will be missed by our communal beneficiaries, and your humor and good nature will be missed even more by those of us lucky enough to work beside you.

We wish you all the best as you go from strength to strength.