GRAY — Denise Aileen Pollard, 54, passed away on September 5.

Shewas born on Jan. 29, 1956, in Portland, the daughter of Robert D and Barbara E. Pollard.

She attended local schools, graduating from Gray-New Gloucester High School in 1975. She also graduated from Saint Joseph’s College, with a bachelor’s degree in education, cum laude, in 1998, and was inducted into Delta Epsilon Fraternity. She was a trustee of Gray Cemetery Association, volunteering to computerize all the cemetery records.

Born with Cerebral Palsy, she enjoyed life to the fullest. Her philosophy was, “people with disabilities are like everybody else, they just do things differently.” Her nieces also made her realize that when a child’s curiosity about disabilities is joined with understanding, than acceptance will occur.

She volunteered for six years at Brentwood Nursing Home, but volunteering at the Russell Elementary School K-2 for 25 years she realized had made a difference in the lives of children, but more importantly, they gave her the gift of unconditional love and respect, for which she was truly grateful. In 2007, she was a Six Who Cares recipient honored for the 25 years of volunteering at Russell School.

She was predeceased by her father in 1989, leaving her mother and best friend, Barbara; a brother, Wayne R. and wife, Gwen A.; two nieces, Jessica I. Pollard and Nicole D. Hamilton; great nephew Alexander W. Hamilton; and many cousins.