Soldier, salesman found his calling in psychology

A furniture-salesman-turned-psychologist with an extensive military background, Edward J. Polatsek was as distinct in his personality and hobbies as he was in his professional life.

The 90-year-old retired clinical psychologist from Marlton, known for his sense of humor, love of Civil War history, and sophisticated looks, died March 12 at St. Mary's Catholic Home in Cherry Hill.

Mr. Polatsek worked at Vineland State School and at Ancora Psychiatric Hospital in Winslow Township for several years each from the 1970s into the mid-1990s.

Though he worked in most of Ancora's departments, he spent most of his time in patient intake, said his wife of 14 years, Morgia Gross Roak Polatsek, whom he met while both worked at the hospital. Through psychological testing and therapy, Mr. Polatsek helped patients understand their illnesses.

As eccentric as he could be, according to his family, Mr. Polatsek treated his patients with the utmost care, said Wade Johnston, a colleague at Ancora.

"He was a great guy, very empathic with patients," Johnston said.

Mr. Polatsek found his work at Vineland and Ancora fulfilling, said his son Fritz. No one in the family knows, however, why exactly Mr. Polatsek went into psychology after working in furniture for about 25 years.

His son thinks his personality drew him to the field. Johnston thought Mr. Polatsek had some experience in psychology after doing undercover work in France during World War II.

Mr. Polatsek was born and raised in Cleveland. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin in 1941 with a degree in history, his wife said.

After college, he went straight into the Army and served in Europe. After World War II, he remained active in the Army Reserve until 1979, retiring as a lieutenant colonel, his family said.

Mr. Polatsek's Hungarian father owned a furniture factory in the Cleveland area. The Army vet learned the tricks of the trade and became a salesman.

In the late 1950s, Mr. Polatsek and his wife at the time, Zelda, moved to Haddonfield. They divorced in 1975.

Mr. Polatsek was a sales representative for several furniture companies in the Philadelphia area, his son said, until the late 1960s, when he decided to get a master's degree in psychology from Glassboro State College (now Rowan University). While going to school, Mr. Polatsek worked as a substitute teacher at Haddonfield Memorial High School.

After receiving his degree in 1971, Mr. Polatsek went to work at Vineland State School, a facility for mentally handicapped women. He started at Ancora in 1984 and retired in 1994.

With his beard, glasses, and perfectly tailored and pressed outfits, Mr. Polatsek had an aura of an elite Englishman, those who knew him said.

"He looked like a distinguished man, always very well-dressed," Ancora colleague Grete Hesse said.

But behind the proper looks, Mr. Polatsek was a ball of energy and fun.

A Civil War enthusiast, he celebrated Gen. Robert E. Lee's birthday each year. He and Zelda would decorate their house, make Southern food, and allow their children to stay home from school, his son said. Everyone in the family would pretend to be a different Civil War figure.

The family often took weekend trips to Civil War battle sites.

Mr. Polatsek played practical jokes, peppered with a wealth of knowledge. He once bought a leopard skin and donated it to the Haddonfield Marching Band, in which his sons Fritz and Charles were drummers, and explained that drummers in British regimental bands wore leopard skins.

For many years Mr. Polatsek was a docent at the Rosenbach Museum and Library in Philadelphia. He also served on the Historic Preservation Committee of Evesham.

In addition to his wife and sons Fritz and Charles, Mr. Polatsek is survived by another son, Harry; a daughter, Judy Brookover; 11 grandchildren; a great-granddaughter; and his former wife.

A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. April 18 at Kain-Murphy Funeral Services, 15 West End Ave., Haddonfield.