THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, July 21, 1994 TAG: 9407190153
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Close-Up
SOURCE: Vicki Lewis
LENGTH: Medium: 64 lines
For 14 years, Susan I. Pollack has touched the lives of thousands of Norfolk's children as director of Children's Harbor-Ghent, formerly known as Early Works day care and child development center.
``Miss Susan'' graduated summa cum laude from Bridgewater State College in Bridgewater, Maine, with a master's degree in early childhood education. She opened the Learning Tree day care center (now Children's Harbor-Chesapeake) in January of 1980 before coming to the Norfolk location in 1981.
Children are ``spontaneous, honest, creative, able to problem-solve, nurturing, comical, wise, spirited, fun and, able to keep you young,'' she says. ``You never know what your day will be like.''
Name: Susan I. Pollack
Nickname: (None)
What brought you to Norfolk: My old Camaro! (A new job.)
Birthplace: Boston
Birthdate: Feb. 7.
Occupation: Center director of Children's Harbor-Ghent (formerly Early Works). Also, part-time faculty at Tidewater Community College.
Marital status: Married to Mark W. Graybill.
Children: Lindsay Rose, 20 months, and stepson, Brandt, 13.
Last book read: ``The Client'' by John Grisham.
Favorite movie: ``When Harry Met Sally.''
Favorite magazine: Young Children.
If you could trade places for just one day with anyone in the world, who would it be and why? Barbra Streisand, so I could sing on key - having a day to spend her money wouldn't be so bad either.
Biggest accomplishment: Coordinating the construction of the playground at our center at 1900 Llewellyn.
Most embarrassing moment: Losing my scuba gear in the ocean at Nags Head.
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? I can only change one thing?
Perfect way to spend the day: Away from my house while someone else cleans it.
Favorite vacation spot: Barbara's house in Hatteras; Hood River, Oregon; Welfleet, Maine.
Pet peeve: Misspelled words; drivers who do not use their directionals to signal turns; empty milk bottles left in the fridge; people who do not replace the toilet paper roll (after using the last piece).
First job: Waitress at a deli where everyone complained about their food!
Worst job: My first job!
Hobbies: Read (when I have time); collecting sea glass and shells on the beach, finding antique stores no one knows about, playing Scrabble, scuba-diving (supposedly).
Favorite restaurant: Seacrest in Pungo.
What do you like most about Norfolk? The people that I have met.
What do you like least about Norfolk? The hot, humid weather that seems to last forever - I still miss the snowy, cold winters of New England. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by RICHARD L. DUNSTON
by CNB