Janine Pollack of Melbourne Beach passed away August 29 at  William Childs Hospice House in Malabar. She was born in 1954 and raised near Asbury Park NJ, the youngest of 4 children of John and Charlotte Wrubel. She graduated from Ocean Township (NJ) High School and attended Rider College (NJ). A serious lover of animals she received a certificate as a Veterinary Assistant and worked in the field until moving to Lake Park (FL) in the 1970s. She graduated with a Nursing Degree from Palm Beach State College and worked as an RN for over 25 years.  She married Joe Pollack and had 2 children, Ryan and Kelsey. The family moved to Melbourne Beach in the late 1980s where Janine worked at Health First Holmes Regional Medical Center primarily in the ER and Discharge Planning. She continued her work with animals as a volunteer at the Brevard Zoo where she was particularly fond of working with the giraffes. She also actively worked to protect the nesting sea turtles in her area.

She is survived by her son Ryan and his wife Samantha, her daughter Kelsey, her brother John (Cynthia) Lord of Providence RI, brother Bill (Marie) of East Hampton , NY and Vero Beach, sister Nancy (Richard)  Gray of Oakmont, PA and Melbourne Beach, and many nieces and nephews…and her close companion, her Labrador Juno. She was proceeded in death by her husband Joe who passed away in 1999.

A Life Celebration will be held at a later date this Fall. Donations in her name may be given to the Brevard Zoo by calling 321.254.9453 ext. 241 or visiting http://weblink.donorperfect.com/PollackTribute.