Dr. Pamela Delp Polashenski died in her home in Palmyra, NY on Friday, December 3rd. She was surrounded by candles, David Bowie music, her husband, her three daughters, and other loving family and friends. She had been fighting breast cancer for six years. She was 52 years young.
Dr. Polashenski, “Pam,” was known and loved in the Rochester area for her zest and playfulness, her exuberant optimism, her astonishing athleticism, her intelligence and wit, her love for her family, her excellence in medicine, and her joyfulness and love of fun.
Pam was born on May 30, 1969 in Richmond, VA to Sue and Warren Delp as the middle of five children. Her family moved to Kinderhook, NY when Pam was a child. She graduated from Ichabod Crane High School in Kinderhook in 1987 and the University of Rochester, where she met her future husband, Walter Polashenski, in 1991. She earned a masters degree in public health in 1998, and completed her medical degree from the University of Rochester in 2002. She was an admired hospitalist physician at Rochester General Hospital for many years. Recognized for her leadership and vision, in 2016 she became the Chief Medical Officer at Newark Wayne and Clifton Springs hospitals. She remained in this role until 2018 when for health reasons she made the decision to shift the focus of her career and resumed her patient care role. She was loved by her colleagues and her patients for her compassion, sense of humor and grace under pressure.
Pam was the University of Rochester’s first All-American volleyball player and was inducted into the University’s Athletic Hall of Fame. She continued to excel on the volleyball court through her adult life and shared her love of the game at Hot Shots Volleyball Club in Rochester along with a community that infused her life with joy. Even through her illness in the final months of her life, she continued to love to play.
Pam and Walter Polashenski were married in 1993, and had three children together: twins Maya and Anastasia, born May 21, 1994, and Tallis, born July 12, 1997. Pam and Walter had a love story for the ages, growing together in their shared love of family, friends, Dungeons & Dragons, and beer. Pam’s three daughters were the light of her life and her best friends, and she glowed with pride when talking about any of them.
Pam is survived by her husband of 28 years, Dr. Walter Polashenski, their three daughters, Maya (Marcus Cox), Anastasia and Tallis, her mother Sue Delp, her four siblings, and a large community of loving friends.
Comments
18 responses to “Polashenski, Dr. Pamela S.”
This news saddens me beyond belief. I was also a member of Common Ground, and we all celebrated with Pam’s improvements. We all had high hopes for her. She added a dimension to the group that only Pam could. My heart breaks for her wonderful family and all the people she has touched over the years. I am honored to have known her as she was such an inspiration to all of us. God bless.
Pan was one of the only few who dropped everything she was doing, including her funky ethnic purse carrying her favorite pens, when she learned of my previous devastating breakup and spent time with me. That was by far one of the kindest and most loving acts that someone has ever done for me in my entire life. That moment was key to my facing the crossroads. She lives on in my heart as my heroine until i meet her face to face again. I sincerely love her and the pain of not seeing her again is quite a lot.
My condolences. I did not know Pam, but I wish I had. She sounds like an amazing human. Please accept my sympathy and a donation has been made to the Breast Cancer Coalition of Rochester. #cancersucks
I will always remember Pam for her wit, humor, and beautiful dimpled smile. I was fortunate enough to get to know Pam in medical school, and as our last names were alphabetically proximal, we were often grouped together, much to my benefit and delight. I remain convinced to this day that without Pam’s humor and companionship, I most likely would not have survived our surgery rotation – and possibly medical school altogether. She was a joyful force of life, whose deep love for her children and husband is an inspiring human tale. I will always remember Pam as the beautiful, loving, and wildly funny person she was. My deepest condolences to her family and loved ones.
Much love to Pam’s amazing family through this..I can only say Pam was a light of life and positivity..The volleyball community of Rochester will deeply miss her..Pam was a gem,and I was blessed to know her.
I heard the news and my heart sunk ! Its painful to accept the reality. Pam was my chief resident and was everything I wanted to be ! She shaped my attitude towards life when I was going through difficult time in 2005. She gave me hope and taught me to be the best in everything that I would do in my future life. I was looking forward to meet her in person in 2020 Spring before the pandemic but that never happened. I will miss her very much .
I was so sorry to hear the news of Pam’s passing. My sincere condolences to her family. She truly was an incredible human being. She grabbed life by the horns and lived her best life. I thank God for putting such a vibrant life on this earth. May she rest in peace. Her entire family and friends are in my thoughts and prayers.
What a stunning tribute to a life well lived! My sincerest condolences to Sue, Katie, her brothers, her husband and children. She will hold a very special place in a lot of hearts for a very long time.
Much love to Pam’s family… My deepest condolences to her children, husband, family and the love ones.
Pam was central to conversation and support exchanged in the Common Ground “Peeps” group at the Breast Cancer Coalition.. I’m among her league of admirers: she was fun, serious, informed, passionate and beautiful. We will miss her sorely. My heart goes out to all who have lost this incredible family member and friend.
Pam will be sorely missed, She is a permanent part of my memories of RGH and Rochester in general. I knew her as my senior resident and then the Chief Resident, Always smiling, witty, humble and incredibly intelligent, is how I remember her. My heartfelt condolences to Walter and the daughters.
An amazing compassionate person and doctor. I was fortunate to meet her many years ago and have never forgotten her, because she left that great of an impression on, me.. Dr Walter, to you and your girls and family, our deepest sympathy and caring thoughts. May she rest in peace..
She carried confidence, intelligent focused awareness and direction with her. She would light up the room and command a following. All of this was wrapped in a sense of humor and personal kindness. She made the world a better place.
So sorry to hear about Pam. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers.
Pam was one of the brightest stars shining in the darkest of nights. She will be dearly missed!
I am so sorry to hear about the passing of someone who seemed to be the definition of freedom & love. Dr. Polashenski was my attending in MAT unit when I was a resident a few years ago. Each time I scrambled to get my papers and thoughts together to present my patients I was instantly impressed by that reassuring smile of, “You got this”. I would suddenly have confidence and much needed composure. The hour of bedside round would subsequently be filled with much learning and laughter.
My deepest condolences to her beautiful family and friends.
I am so very saddened to hear about Pam’s passing.
Pam was my chief resident and my attending some 15 years ago. I will always remember her as a very positive person, passionate doctor, and a great friend, always there to support me when I needed it. Pam touched so many lives in the very best way. I am so grateful I got the chance to know her.
Our hearts are broken. We send our deepest condolences to Walter and the entire Polashenski Family..