TO THE CHAPTER INVISIBLE
Haven from the Island of Nevis in the Caribbean. In 1952, upon graduating from Hillhouse High School, he moved to Washington, D.C., to attend historic Howard University. In his years after college, he only ever held one salaried job, and that was for a duration of just nine months. From 1957 onward, he was a non- salaried entrepreneur in a career that spanned over six decades. He began working with Field Enterprises Educa- tional Corporation, selling World Book Encyclopedias door-to-door in Washing- ton, D.C. He quickly rose through the ranks within the organization to become the Assistant Vice President and General Manager, supervising 725 others. Paris worked for over 25 years with World Book Encyclopedia. In 1980, Paris left Field Enterprises, purchasing and running a Baskin Rob- bins franchise, where, for over ten years, he was recognized as having the top U.S. operation. He then purchased nine NutriSystem stores, transforming those weight loss franchises into the most successful in the Midwest territory. He would often joke that he sold customers ice cream, and he would then help them loose those extra pounds from his Baskin Robbins store through his NutriSystem stores. In 1990, Paris moved to Delray Beach, Florida, where he purchased a mango farm, that he named Estates Mango de Paris. He subdivided and developed the land with million-dollar homes – trans- forming the property into an important part of the thriving Lake Ida community. He continued to work in real estate, and although he held no formal license, he had sold over 49 properties by the end of his life. Brother Paris was deeply committed to that which he cared about. He donated generously to organizations and scholar- ship funds that helped to give young men and women access to higher educa- tion, including the Howard University Scholarship Fund and the Kappa Alpha Psi® Scholarship Fund. He received many accolades for his philanthropic
at the age of 87. Gerald Alexander Pollock was born July 17, 1932 in Buffalo, NY. Pollock moved from Buffalo to Phoenix, AZ in 1948 and graduated from Phoenix’s North High School. He worked on the railroad for seven years as he put himself through Phoenix College, Arizona State University, and University of Arizona Law School. A civil rights activist as a college student, Pollock protested seg- regated and unequal Phoenix theaters and establishments. While At ASU, he joined the fraternity as a 1954 initiate of the Arizona State University Chapter, the Gamma Iota of Kappa Alpha Psi®. His rationale for joining was Kappa Alpha Psi® “…was one of, or the only fraternity which did not discriminate based on race.” He was proud of his fraternity and cherished the experience and friendships. After law school, Pollock served three years in the U.S. Army Judge Advocate Corps and returned to Phoenix to even- tually start his own law firm. In 1972 and 1973, Pollock walked the state of Arizona as the opposition candidate recalling then Governor Jack Williams. Recruited by Cesar Chavez's United Farm Workers union, he became the spokesperson for the striking rights of farm workers. He walked a three- month, 1,200-mile statewide campaign tour taking him to 60 communities in 11 of the states' 14 counties bringing atten- tion to social justice issues and a sharp critique of Gov. Williams' tenure. Over 176,000 signatures were gathered to force a recall election, but the Attorney General ruled the signatures invalid. In 1976, a federal judge ruled the Arizona Secretary of State's office had improp- erly rejected signatures, but Governor Williams' term had ended. Jerry was a passionate advocate of pris- on reform for over 50 years. He started the Arizona Prison Reform Group where he met his second wife, Joellyn Cohen Pollock. Political science was his avocation and Pollock taught it for decades at Phoenix College. He avidly followed news events
endeavors, such as the Kappa Alpha Psi ® Excellence in Honor to all Hu- man Endeavors Award, and the 2018 Bison on the Vineyard Truth and Service Award. Brother Paris was a Life Mem- ber of Kappa Alpha Psi® as well as the NAACP. Throughout his lifetime, he watched the landscape of America, a country which he loved deeply, change. He put himself at the forefront of that change, partici- pating in the March on Washington in 1963, supporting organizations through- out his adult years that were committed to helping all people access the bounty and promise of America, and in his later years, functioning as a Precinct Inspec- tor for the Palm Beach County Board of Elections during highly contested U.S. presidential elections in that district. Calvin was an avid traveler who relished discovering the beauty and diversity of America by road. His indomitable spirit will live on as will his voice bellowing that “life, experi- ences, success are there for the taking, but you gotta wanna.” Brother Calvin Paris is preceded in death by his parents (Sam and Nellie), sister (Doris), one son (Calvin, Jr.), and a host of ancestors. He is survived by his wife Arlene, four chil- dren Priscilla, Theodore, April and Sam, one stepchild Alisson, ten grandchildren, and a multitude of extended family and close friends.
Gerald A. Pollock 1932-2019 Civil Rights Attorney, U.S. Army
He was noted in a 1973 New York Times ® article as "an outspoken lib- eral lawyer", Ger- ald Pollack was a respected Phoenix trial attorney who represented labor
unions and fought for consumer protec- tions, plaintiff's cases, and civil rights. Brother Gerald “Jerry” Pollock entered the Chapter Invisible on July 29, 2019
192 | FALL 2019 ♦ THE JOURNAL
Publishing achievement for 105 years
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