Robert William Pollitt

Princess Anne – Robert William Pollitt, 94, of Princess Anne, MD, died Monday, January 16, 2023, in Salisbury, MD.

He was born on November 8, 1928, also his father’s birthday, to the late Edward William and Lena Taylor Pollitt. He was married to his wife, Joyce Richards Pollitt, for 61 years, from 1950 until her death in 2012.

Mr. Pollitt was a chicken farmer by trade and ran various business entities through his company B & J Enterprises. He owned and renovated properties in downtown Princess Anne where he also operated Jenny’s Arcade in the 1980′s. He sold and delivered propane and owned and managed a gun club. He drove a school bus for Somerset County Schools and helped establish the School Bus Contractors Association. In his retirement, he served as the Somerset County Livability Code Enforcement officer and operated B & J Storage.

In addition to his professional ventures, Mr. Pollitt was actively involved in his community. He assisted with renovations and maintenance at Teackle Mansion in Princess Anne and with Olde Princess Anne Days. He successfully campaigned to maintain public access to Racoon Point, a park that has grown and flourished as the sole public recreational space and boat launch along the Manokin River. He served as Secretary for Manokin Presbyterian Sunday School for many years. He was a member (over 20 years) and past treasurer (about 10 years) of the Crisfield and Smith Island Cultural Alliance. Mr. Pollitt held memberships in the Crisfield Elks Lodge and the Tall Cedars of Lebanon. He was a member of the Masonic Order for over 70 years, having been initiated on June 13, 1950, and maintaining memberships in both Manokin Lodge #106 and Chesapeake Lodge #147.

Mr. Pollitt immensely enjoyed boating on the Manokin River and Tangier Sound and visiting with friends on Smith Island. He was a craftsman, excelling at woodworking, and he built his own home. He always maintained a kitchen garden. He enjoyed hunting doves, fishing, shooting trap, and playing table tennis and pool. He often took a chance on the lottery and vowed that if he ever won, he would donate much of the proceeds to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.

He is survived by a daughter, Lynne Pollitt Bratten of Salisbury, MD; a granddaughter and her husband, Jennifer and Timothy Tusing of Fruitland, MD; a grandson and his wife, Andrew and Jessica Bratten of Severna Park, MD; four great-grandchildren, Mary and Edith Tusing and Josephine and Zachary Bratten; a nephew, Richard Catlin, of Salisbury; and a niece, Janet McIntyre of Mount Vernon. In addition to his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by his son-in-law Blynn Bratten and his sister-in-law Jeanette Catlin.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, January 28, at 10:00 AM at the Hinman Funeral Home in Princess Anne with interment to follow at Manokin Presbyterian Cemetery. Friends may call Friday the 27th from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at Hinman Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital or to the Crisfield and Smith Island Cultural Alliance, Inc., c/o Sandie Marriner, 30451 Bailey Ln., Princess Anne, MD 21853.