William Michael Polowy, 71, Of Moose Horn Road died Thursday, November 20, 2008after a long bout with lung cancer. He was the loved husband of Agatha 'Val' Valigursky Polowy. William Polowy was born March 7, 1937 in Thomaston, the son of Stanley and Sophie (Sloboda ) Polowy. Bill loved his town of Thomaston, was an alumnus of its schools and lived there all his life with an exception of six years. He attended the University of Connecticut and was granted a BA in Mathematics. Following this he was hired as math instructor at Naugatuck High School 1961 to 1969. He went on to receive an M. Ed. at University if Hartford and later earned an advanced graduate certificate in Guidance Counseling at the University of Hartford. He was hired in 1970 at Regional District #1 serving the towns of Cornwall, Salisbury, Sharon, Canaan, Falls Village and Kent until 1979. While working in these districts he took summer positions as a consultant in several private schools in the area such as Hotchkiss School and Marvelwood. He returned to the University of Hartford where he earned advanced graduate certificates and became certified as a Psychological Examiner and later a School Psychologist. Subsequently he became a Nationally Certified School Psychologist. In 1974 he was appointed to the State Committee for Developing Guidelines in School Psychology. He was hired by the Thomaston School System in 1980 to 1995 as a School Psychologist followed by an administrative position after earning certification from Southern Connecticut State University. While working in the Thomaston System he also was hired as a Clinical Consultant by the Connecticut Department of Children and Youth Services. He continued to coordinate and administer the special education program in the Thomaston Schools and worked with outplacement students. He retired after 34 years in public education in 1995. After his retirement from the Thomaston School System, he became an adjunct professor at Post University in Waterbury, Northwest Community College in Winsted and the Naugatuck Valley Community College in Waterbury. As an instructor in these colleges, he taught courses including Family and Marriage, Behavior Modification, The Exceptional Child, Abnormal Psychology and Developmental Psychology. Bill, as he was known, did a life time of volunteerism and was an advocate of children for all his life. He was a member of the Juvenile Review Board. He was a student mentor at Thomaston High School and Thomaston Center School. He was a member of the Recreation Committee, The Twenty-Twenty Committee and worked with the police department on the F.E.M.A. initiative. He spent many years, as a member and technical advisor working with the Thomaston Historical Society and the Seth Thomas-Bradstreet House Society on all their technical advancements and initiated their catalogue of acquisitions on the computer as well as many Power Point presentations for both societies He was a member of the Thomaston High School and Middle School building committee for four years. He was a member of M.E.N.S.A. for many years and the National Association of School Psychologists all his life. He was an avid golfer and played tennis for many years in the Thomaston Recreation Department Leagues, winning various trophies. He had memberships to several golf clubs including Eastwood and Crestwood, and enjoyed many Connecticut courses. He enjoyed many sports and was a great fan of all team sports, beginning with Little League in his younger years. Above all he valued his family, his extended family and his many friends. He loved his family dearly as well as his network of many friends. Besides his wife, he leaves two sons, William David and Timothy John Polowy, two brothers John and Lawrence Polowy and two nieces, Lynda Mitchell and Jamie Mitchell. His sister, Ann Harris, predeceased him as well as his parents. Arrangements: Family and friends may gather at 10:00 A.M. at the Lyons Funeral Home, 46 High Street in Thomaston, on Tuesday, November 25th for a funeral service at 11:00 a.m. Burial will follow in Hillside Cemetery. For more information or to send an online condolence please visit www.lyonsfuneralhome.com Memorial contributions may be made to the following: 1. The Leever Cancer Center, Chase Parkway, Waterbury, Ct. 2. V.N.A. Health Care, 50 Brookside Road, Waterbury, Ct. 06708 3. The Seth Thomas-Bradstreet House Society, C/O Thomaston Historical Society 158 Main Street, Thomaston, Ct. 06787

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