ABOUT BRIAN

TheBrianPollackFund.org was established in November 2017 as a way to remember Brian Pollack, who passed away in October 2016, leaving behind a community of friends and family who wish to further his interests in documentary filmmaking and exploring the outdoors.

As a video director/producer and documentary filmmaker, Brian enjoyed telling stories of people from around the world and the challenges they face. His sensitivity to others and his intuitiveness allowed him to capture nuanced behavior and emotion. In 2008, he filmed the 2nd Battalion, 24th Marines for a documentary entitled “Armed Ambassadors”. Reporting on environmental law in Anhui, China, he met with residents along the Guo river where toxins were being dumped, causing widespread fishkill. Brian served as Producer and Associate Producer for Investigation Discovery’s documentary series on fugitives: “Cuff Me If You Can” and “I Almost Got Away From It” by Indigo Films. Brian worked as a Video Journalist for NBC’s Peacock Productions of “Storm Riders” and The Weather Channel’s summer tornado hunt, “Vortex 2.” Brian won awards for his documentary work, radio reporting in Alaska, and public service announcements.

Many of Brian’s friends connected with him through a shared love for the outdoors. Brian relaxed by hiking, camping and kayaking and was a member of a kayak club in Baltimore. He and his friends went on multi-day camping trips, hiking ten miles or more into the woods with packs on their backs, pitching a shelter at a base camp, and from there, hiking for days. Being outdoors was what brought him joy and peace, though doing these things had become increasingly difficult due to the onset of Parkisons.

Brian developed close friendships while hiking, camping, kayaking, and winter snowshoeing. Brian lived on the west coast for most of his adult life and appreciated the extensive opportunities this region of the country afforded for exploring outdoor life. Brian relaxed, challenged himself, contemplated life, and studied people and nature while exploring the outdoors. He spent considerable time in Yosemite, Muir Woods, Joshua Tree National Park, Point Reyes, and  Sitka and Ketchikan, Alaska. He hiked 70 miles through the North Cascades in Washington state and the 211 mile John Muir trail, with its 13,000 and 14,000 foot peaks, lakes, canyons, and granite cliffs, and considered it one of his favorite trips. On the east coast he enjoyed summer, winter, and fall backpacking in the Catskills and Adirondacks in NY, the Blue Ridge Mountains and Smokies and kayaking with the Fells Point Kayak Club.

Brian was adored by friends and family and is survived by his mother and four siblings. He was particularly close to his nieces and nephews with whom he shared his love of reading, history, and the outdoors. Brian considered his friends to be like family. His interest in others, kindness, sense of humor, and magnetism drew people to him. Until his death, he remained close to friends from childhood through adulthood. May his memory be a blessing.


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