Born on August 28, 1920, in Newark, NJ, she prepared for college at Good Counsel High School and attended college in New Jersey. In 1942, she was married to Edward Pols, who joined the philosophy department at Bowdoin in 1949 and taught philosophy courses at the college until his retirement. She took Bowdoin courses through the years and eventually became a full-time student. In 1979, she was graduated magna cum laude as an art history major. In 1985, she received a master of arts degree in art history from the University of Texas at Austin. Surviving are her husband, Edward Pols, who is the William R. Kenan, Jr. Professor of Philosophy and Humanities Emeritus at the College; two sons, Adrian Pols of Charlottesville, VA, and Benet Pols of Brunswick; four daughters, Cynthia Pols of Washington, DC, Elizabeth Pols of Belchertown, MA, Alison Pols ’79 of Brunswick, and Mary Pols of Belchertown, MA; and several grandchildren, including Kathleen A. Reid ’04.