Solomon R. Pollack, C’55, Gr’57, PhD’61, an emeritus professor of bioengineering in the School of Engineering & Applied Science, died on August 4. He was 90.

Dr. Pollack was a Penn alumnus, earning his bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, and PhD, all in physics, from Penn in 1955, 1957 and 1961, respectively. In 1964, he joined the Penn faculty as an assistant professor in what was then called the School of Metallurgical Engineering. (The faculty of that school, now the department materials science and engineering, was absorbed into the newly-formed School of Engineering & Applied Science in 1972.) In 1977, Dr. Pollack joined Penn Engineering’s department of bioengineering, where he continued to serve until 2003, when he retired and took emeritus status. During his time at Penn, Dr. Pollack also held secondary appointments in the School of Medicine’s department of orthopaedic surgery and in the School of Nursing. He served as the department chair of bioengineering from 1977 to 1982 and again from 1990 to 1991, and also as associate dean of graduate education and research in Penn Engineering from 1981 to 1986.

Dr. Pollack studied the bioelectrical properties of bone and connective tissue, the electrical stimulation of bone growth and fracture healing, and transport phenomena in bones, and published his findings widely in peer-reviewed journals. Dr. Pollack was renowned on Penn’s campus as an outstanding teacher and mentor; he received Penn’s Lindback Award for Distinguished Teaching in 1968 and Penn Engineering’s S. Reid Warren, Jr. Award in 1992 (Almanac December 15, 1992). He mentored many graduate students, many of whom have led distinguished careers at peer institutions. Upon Dr. Pollack’s retirement, his daughter Andrea Pollack and son-in-law Adam Usdan established the Solomon R. Pollack professorship in honor of Dr. Pollack’s groundbreaking contributions to the department of bioengineering.

Dr. Pollack is survived by his wife, Ellen (née Goldenberg); his children, Michael Pollack (Debbie), Andrea Pollack (Adam Usdan), and Carolyn Pollack; and his grandchildren, Jen (George), Ben, Hanna, Matthew, Jacob, and Zachary. Contributions in his memory may be made to Birthright Israel at www.birthrightisrael.com.

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