Howard J. Pollen, age 70 formerly of Homestead, FL, and New Haven Connecticut died at his home in Vero Beach, FL with family surrounding him in love on Tuesday, December 3rd. Howard entered the U.S. Navy in 1965 at the age of 22 and served 5 years with an honorable discharge due to his health. He received a National Defense Service Medal at the rank of E4 3rd Class Commissary Man and he served on the USS Roosevelt and the USS Saratoga during his service.
He later worked for Dade County Parks and Recreation, starting as an engineering aid and advancing to Park Attendant, Landscape Foreman, Forman 2 and then Maintenance Manager of Matheson Hammock Park & Marina. He retired with 30 years of service. After retiring from Dade County, he and his wife Marty moved to Vero Beach to be closer to family. In semi-retirement Howard worked at the TA Truck Shop as a buffet cook, and at Flying J. He finished his semi-retirement with Winn Dixie on Oslo Road as a Seafood Associate before his health forced him to retire from work completely. Preceded in death by his parents Sarah and Soloman L. Pollen and his son Brian Pollen, his survivors include his wife of 30 years Marty; his sister Roz Starr, brother Jay Pollen, nieces Marla, Debbie and Gayle; nephew Bradley; step sons Matt and Mike Kiefer, grand- children Alexander, Chelsea, Jackson and Jacob Kiefer, Caitlin Davis, Casey Mitten, and Christin Chapman as well as great-granddaughter Avaleigh Davis.

A Funeral Service will be held at the Temple Beth Shalom on Monday 9, 2013 at 11:00a.m. Visitation will be held at Cox Gifford Seawinds Funeral Home on Monday 9, 2013 form 9:30a.m. - 10:30a.m. A Graveside service will be follow at the South Florida National Cemetery at 2:15p.m with full Military Honors.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in memorial to Howard at either Wounded Warrior Project at https://support.woundedwarriorproject.org or VNA and Hospice Foundation, 1110 35th Lane, Vero Beach, FL 32960, www.vnatc.com

Arrangements are under the direction of Cox Gifford Seawinds and Crematory in Vero Beach, FL. Online condolences may be sent at www.coxgiffordseawinds.com