Laura Michelle Pollard

I’m remembering Laura today. Ever since she came into my life as a young boy, August 12 has always had a special feeling to it, like that feeling I think we all might have of our own birthdays. Today, I’m remembering how Laura loved to be together, especially together as a family. She would always say, “come on!!!!! Let’s play a game!! TOGETHER, as a fammmmmmily”. At the time, I thought it was just Laura being silly, but looking back, I now get and appreciate that what she loved most, was time spent together. Miss you and love you, Laura!

(And here’s Laura, napping, “as a family” on a backpacking trip)

Laura was a wonderful friend - we were best friends really our whole lives. She and I often were together after school - we loved to play cards and eat bologna and cheese sandwiches. Her family always embraced our friendship and I am forever grateful for them for adopting me as a part of the Fetto clan. Laura was a giving and generous person to everyone - she went the extra mile to help her family and friends! She so loved her wonderful son and would be very proud of him today. We all miss her so much...today is her birthday...hugs Laura

My third story, relates to Laura’s gracious generosity. Laura offered and twice I used her Wailea, Maui Vrbo condo. I took my mother there once and took my golf buddies there. Laura even went out of her way to get me a local resident card to access discount green fees.

Treating my Mom to Maui was a priceless experience for us thanks to Laura.

Second stanza.
My second story relates to Park City tennis. I had been playing tennis for 20 or 30 years Cousin Lara had taken up tennis for maybe 5 years. She even got Aunt Edie involved and took her to some pro events at UCLA tennis center.
On a visit to the Pollards Park City home, Laura invited me to play at her indoor club. I agreed. We played. She trounced me. I am still upset about it.

When I was 19, when I was really 19, my best friend's sister was named Laura. We sat in his bedroom in Granada Hils discussing philosophy and politics and literature, and one day into the middle of our Very Important Conversations, came Laura...shining like the brightest light on the planet, the brightest smile, the sweetest heart.

I don't remember what we talked about...all I remember is that deep smile of love for the world.

My mom, Frances Piselli Chanon was a close cousin to Laura's mom, Edith Piselli Fetto since they were children back on Avenue L. Their husbands, John and my dad, Al were best buddies too. They traveled all over the world together. My drawers are filled with pictures of their adventures. Laura knew how important my parents were to her mom and dad. She made a point to connect to Al and Fran regularly. My mom was always so touched that Laura would take the time to remember her. One time when Laura was in NY, she brought my mom flowers and my mom preserved that note from her forever. She made sure that my parents met her son, John, Jr. and recorded it with a personal card just for them. Attached are some of the notes that my mom preserved over the years. Laura touched people with her thoughtfulness. My mom treasured forever those warm connections Laura made just for her.

MEETING YOUR MOM and DAD or the FIRST TIME IN PARK CITY
early 1990s- When Ted and I were dating, we went to visit your Mom and Dad in Park City. Ted and Laura are 2nd cousins- or cousins once removed? Ted's Dad, Frank Caplan and Laura Fetto are cousins.
Ted and I were in college and loved movies. It was a big thrill to go to Park City for the Sundance Festival. Your parents, Laura and John, were gracious and kind hosts. They loved their home and they loved Park City. Both of them graciously shared all that they loved about Park City and their home. Your Mom was so beautiful and vivacious. I looked up to her. She had a lot of energy and loved to exercise. She taught me to cross country ski and we would ski in the neighborhood. She assured me if I was a good skier and good roller blader- I could do it. Your parents had 2 golden retrievers and one of them loved to cross country ski with your Mom. We had the best time. We skied in their neighborhood and laughed and Laura could ski up ahead, check in on the dog, and zip back to check on me. She was impressive! I felt safe with her in the lead. She thrived outdoors and exercising. I think of your Mom as a great athlete. She was a cheerleader when she was young. ( have you seen those photos?)
Laura and I talked about college. She told me how In the 1980s about her love of cheerleading. She did a lot of aerobics and as a flight attendant in those days- they used to have weight requirements for women who worked in the airlines- so she was always physically fit. And of course- that is how your parents met- the airlines! When I stayed with them- they were so in love and so happy. They would giggle and stare into each other's eyes when they talked about how they met. I remember hoping when I got married- I would be that happy. They loved Park City! They loved their house and they were the best hosts- showing us each room and the views of the mountains and skyline. The house was two stories and had huge windows which helped light up the whole house as the sky reflected the snow. There were log cabin-like details to an otherwise very modern and impressive home. I had never been in a private home that felt like a ski resort! Both of your parents were very kind. Ted and I were poor college students and looked up to your parents.
Ted and I visited twice- each time we would spend three days and two nights. We would watch movies all day and see your parents in the morning and evenings. I will see if I have pictures of these trips which were in the early 1990s. I will dig for them. I may have one of them together and I would love to think I have one of Laura and I skiing but it was before iPhones- and there is no way I was a good enough skier to take my camera with me! Ha!

Laura was like a comet that would swoosh into my life and then continue on its bright orbit, leaving streams of bright ice, ions, and electrons in her wake. My memories of Laura are bits and pieces of meetings, but the deep feeling of family and friendship was always there. In her early teens, John, Laura, and I would play Marco Pollo for hours in the family pool. She was always the center of attention whether at the dinner table, at gymnastics, or cheerleading at high school and UCLA. She had a winning smile and personality, and there was a bit of a devil in there somewhere.
One year I had won two dozen or more stuffed animals at the Pomona Fair, which I kept in my room. Somehow, she convinced me to give all of them to her. I couldn’t say “No.”
The comet flashed by me again when she was in college and I was in law school at UCLA. I was so proud that she was on the elite UCLA Song-girls team, and when she was elevated the next year to head Song Leader. We each tried to set each other up with one of our respective best friends, but in the long term neither matchmaking was successful. Yet we thought enough of one another that we would choose one of our best friends to pair up.
Eventually she became a Western then Delta Flight attendant, stationed in Salt Lake City. We were still close friends and would spend hours giggling and talking in her Salt Lake apartment. I was introduced to a succession of roommates, all good people - the kind Laura attracted. We would go skiing in Park City on each trip. The views were ordinary to her, but to me they were spectacular. When I would make one of my predictable high-speed falls, Laura would call out “garage sale” meaning all of my gloves, googles, ski’s and poles were strewn out for everyone to enjoy.
After a few years, she met John Pollard and lived the life of flight attendant and pilot in love. They were married in Deer Valley, one of the most spectacular weddings I have ever attended. She was radiant in the arms of her husband. Laura was always involved in her community, whether it was teaching aerobics, working for animal rescue or one of the many projects in which she participated, which I may not have known about, or simply don’t remember.
In the years that passed, both John and Laura went out of their way to invite my wife Donna, me, and the kids to Park City for ski trips. Laura took me to her aerobics class, we generally skied together, and John was particularly patient in teaching Susie, Diane, and Tommy to ski. He also took us riding on his horses. (To me a horse is a car with a mind of its own. I fell off more than once, which amused JP.) We were treated to delicious dinners and board games in the evening. Laura always liked to maximize the fun we had.

The biggest event ever in that family for her was when JC was born. Laura was so in love with her little baby boy. Life seemed to be blissful.

As my kids got older, their sports and scouting activities interfered with our usual trips to Park City. I would tend to see Laura at occasional holiday meals at one of the family’s homes. Every time, she exuded warmth and love. Even though time had passed, our relationship was as strong as ever.
I think about her often. I still long for the comet to return and once again brighten my sky.

With Love, Cousin Bill Caplan

I have three stories. I will share one at a time.

1. Aunt Edie and Uncle John always did Christmas Eve dinner in Granada Hills. Frequently Hollywood types would attend. This particular Christmas Eve stands out because a Chips TV series star was there. Unlike Uncle John whose ebullience filled the room, this actor sat in the corner on a couch. He did however, make overtures to Cousin Laura who was still a teen cheerleader for UCLA.
Uncle John taking exception to the actor’s behavior sternly reprimanded the guy.
Merry Christmas to all.

When I was a kid, we would go to Hawaii all the time. I remember being very comfortable in the ocean as a young kid, I wasn't afraid of the water.... and then I watched Jaws. Things changed, haha, I didn't want to be anywhere near the ocean, and was mildly scared that a shark would appear in the pool too.

The next few trips to Hawai,i I wouldn't go anywhere near the sea.

One day, after months of coaxing from my mom and dad to finally. make me open to going back into the ocean. We decided to go snorkling, I kid you not, within 3 seconds as I was walking into the ocean I felt a burn around my lower leg, it felt kind of like someone had wrapped barbed wire around my leg and pulled it tight. Turns out I had been stung by a jellyfish... you can't make that shit up.

I sprinted out of the ocean in tears and in classic 7ish year old fashion was fully convinced the world was ending. I don't have a ton of clear memories of my mom, but this is something I will never forget, she knew exactly how to make me feel better.

Instead of catastrophizing things and adding to the drama, she instead hilariously offered to pee on my leg (it was a joke). I remember pretending to be so mad and angry at the joke, but deep down I was fighting off the biggest smile and resisting the urge to burst in to laughter. I leaned in to the drama for a few more mintues and tried to convince my parents of how serious my injury was, but eventually gave in to how silly the idea of her peeing on my leg was.

She just knew what to say and exactly what I needed in that moment, and her goofy sense of humor turned out to be the only remedy for a jelly fish sting that I ended up needing, no pee required.

Laura visited us when we were living in Paris in the early 80s. She was a very good guest and got around the city with no problems. She taught me a sleight-of-hand trick using 2 wine corks. Over the years I have had great success with that trick in Europe and Asia! A very fond memory!

I was really young when Laura passed away, but I remember her kindness and energy. From all the stories I’ve heard, it’s clear how many lives she touched. I really admire the ways JC honors her—like writing her initials on his marathon shoes. It’s such a meaningful reminder of the love that’s always there.

My nephew asked me to tell a story about his mother, my sister. I told him I could write a thousand pages and not tell it all and asked for a month to think about. He didn't say yes, so on the way home from the office, I recalled two stories: one major, and one less so.

Once, back in the eighties or nineties, there was a party at our home in Granada Hills which my father affectionately called "Twin Palms" on account of the two sagging palm trees outside. Of course, my father, the actor, was center stage. But this party was unique in that something happened that never happened before. My father retired early and went to the master bedroom on the far side of the house, away from the noise, to lie down.

I thought nothing of it. But I remember my sister going into his bedroom and then coming out, picking up the phone on the wall and making a call. She didn't ask me, her older brothers advice. She didn't speak to anyone before she dialed. Then she went back into the bedroom.

A few minutes later, I saw red lights swirling in front of my house. My sister walked outside. I still had not idea what was going on. The next thing I knew, the conversation died, and the crowd parted for two EMTs who were led into the master bedroom by my sister. Minutes later, the EMT's came out wheeling one of those creaky stretchers with my father strapped on top. My sister walked next to them, taking down all the information: the address and name of the hospital where they would save him from the first of many heart episodes.

Over the next few days, she and her bestie, Dr. Marianne Gauche-Hill handled everything. That kind of story would be repeated many times over the years.

Now for the trivial story: When I "needed" my eye surgery. Most of my life I wore thick coke bottle glasses that were so thick I could start fires with them in an emergency. After my wife died from breast cancer, I wanted to get laser surgery. I complained to my sister that I had no one to drive me.

Next thing I remember, Laura flew out from Park City. She not only took me to Stanford Hospital and back, but then she stayed with me while the laser cut my eye. I remember this part distinctly because the whole time this laser was carving my eyeball, both she and the Doctor were talking. They chatted about skiing.

Of course, she drove me back to my home in the Oakland Hills and stayed at my house for the few days my eyes needed to remain covered while I healed. I'm sure she prepared food for me, because I don't cook and I didn't starve, but I really don't remember. What I do remember is that after she left and I went into the kitchen, and opened a kitchen drawer. It looked different. I opened another, and it looked the same, but different. The same discovery was found for the entire kitchen. Each and every drawer had had brand new drawer-liners—something I didn't know existed, much less needed. She did this while chatting with me while my eyes were covered.

So, to answer the question my nephew asks, "Who was my mother?" She was the kind of person, if you needed help, she would be there. Anytime; any place. It didn't matter. And she would stay, until she was certain you were all right and everything was in order, and in its proper place.

Laura was always up for a good time. Be it a good margarita or a laugh. Here are some of her dancing moves. JC - you were in her belly at this time.

Laura tried for 10 years to have a child - and finally she had you! She was pregnant in February of 1988 when Brodie and I got married. While she was thrilled to be having a baby, she was concerned that she would be pregnant at our wedding. We told her families come in all sorts of sizes and shapes and it did not matter! She was SO SO happy when you were born on May 29 - after way too many hours of labor - and you had the longest cone shaped head ever!

She loved all holidays and decorating the house!

Laura loved being active… camping wasn’t always her idea but when she went, we had a great time. I remember us all taking a nap after a long hike and some fishing along a lake… she loved snuggling with JC!

Laura LOVED rhyming poems - be it on a Delta flight or a Christmas card - thanks Chat GPT for your help on this one!

She cheered in blue at UCLA, A shining star in youthful day. With pompoms high and spirit wide, She lit the world with Bruin pride. She soared with Delta, skies her stage, A calming smile at every age. And in the mountains, full of grace, She led with strength, her happy place. She loved all creatures, great and small, Each dog and cat, loved them all. A heart so big, a gentle hand, She left Friends of Animals and the land. She loved her John, her truest friend, A love that time could never end. And when sweet JC came along, Her world was bright, her heart was strong. She’d beam with pride if she could see The man he’s grown and come to be. Though gone too soon, her light stays on— In every dawn, she’s never gone.

Well folks, i wasnt the best student. I can count my A's on one hand. Laura was a very good student and got all A's. As a junior in high school i really stepped it up and signed up for Spanish III. First quarter i had a straight D. Laura, who i think majored in Spanish at UCLA was absolutely mortified! With a ton of her help, i earned C, then a B. The teacher was quite surprised at my improvement. I came clean and told him about my crack tutor. Final quarter i got an A-. im sure Mr Watson, who Laura knew, was giving her half the grade!

I can remember a Christmas I came to Park City. My relationship with my family in Michigan was not great. And I was feeling sad one day about it all. Laura saw the sadness in my eyes and leaned over and said - “Michael…you know you have family here now”. We hugged and cried and I felt a little better and little more loved.

When I was a kid, so many nights when Laura would tuck me in, she’d give me back rubs and neck rubs to help me relax and get sleepy. It was this perfect time when everything was quiet, the room was just lit with a lamp and we’d get time to just be together and talk about anything or nothing… never realized how loved and lucky I was to have her in my life as my step mom but, looking back, I really was.