Elinor Upper (Burkheimer) Pollock passed away June 12, 2019 at the Madison House On Bainbridge Island at 97 years old.
Ellle was born in 1922, grew up in Seattle, graduated from Roosevelt High School and attended the University of Washington, where she was a member of Gamma Phi Beta sorority. Ellle received her Master’s Degree in Early childhood Education from Antioch University in Seattle. Elle married Jim Burkheimer in 1944 and they raised two children on Bainbridge Island. Elle was an athlete, won the All City Ski race in 1937, and instilled her love of skiing in her family. All of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren are avid skiers. Elle did extensive volunteering on Bainbridge Island, was active in Saint Barnabas Episcopal Church, the schools, the League of Women Voters, Seattle Children’s Hospital, and any number of children’s activities. She was the eternal optimist, believing in and encouraging the talents of others. She had a tremendous sense of humor, sense of family, and community. Her home was always welcoming to young people for whom she drove ski boats, cooked copious amounts of cookies and hamburgers on the beach, drove car loads of laughing teenagers skiing, hiking, to the theater, and to hundreds of community and sporting events. She loved the beach, boating, the mountains, gardening, and anything outdoors. Elle later married Dave Pollock in 1973 and continued to teach, supporting community, and be active in the lives of her treasured family. Children remained her passion until the day she died. Elle spent the last few years of her life at the Madison House on Bainbridge, where she lived with her loyal little dog Mattie.
The family will hold a memorial service for Elle to celebrate her life at St. Barnabas Church on Bainbridge Island on Saturday, July 20 at 2:00 pm. There will be a reception following in the Parish Hall. Elle is survived by her daughter Chris Llewellyn, her son Clark Burkheimer, daughter-in-law Michelle Burkheimer, 5 grandchildren, and 11 great-grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Elle’s memory to go to Helpline House
www.helplinehouse.org on Bainbridge Island.
