Final Salute

DELAND – Dr. Donald Byron Polan, 95, passed peacefully Sept. 7, 2021. There will be a family burial service at a later date.
Dr. Polan was born Feb. 15, 1926, in Salem, West Virginia, to Lester Ray and Phebe Hewitt Polan.
Donald grew up in Alfred, New York, graduating from Alfred High School in 1943.
He enlisted in the U.S. Navy Construction Battalion (the Seabees), where he served until the end of World War II.
Donald then attended Alfred University, where he received a bachelor’s degree in 1948.
After earning a medical degree from the University of Rochester in 1952, he married Elvira Marie Giovannetti of Seneca Falls, New York, who preceded him in death in 1990.
He was also preceded in death by his sister, Genevieve Polan Scheffer, and his second wife, Miriam Tooke Vogwill.
Donald is survived by his children, Kathe Byrd (Phil Hemus) of DeLand, David (Patricia) Polan of Albany, New York, Beth (Ermin Mark Sr.) Ianacone of Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania, Barbara Polan (Thomas Manning) of Byfield, Massachusetts, Brian Polan of South Deerfield, Massachusetts, and Maureen (Yue) Yee of Clifton Park, New York; his grandchildren, Evangeline Polan Tubb, Elizabeth Ianacone Foster, Emily Ianacone, Ermin Mark Ianacone Jr., Brian and Amelia Manning, Hannah, Dillon and Alena Polan, Kristeen Yee, Elizabeth Yee, Sarah Byrd Walden, and Sean Byrd; six great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.
Throughout his life, Dr. Polan fondly remembered his upbringing in Alfred and his participation in the Seabees. He made it a practice to attend his college reunions and meetings with his fellow Seabees.
Memorial donations may be made to the American Red Cross at www.redcross.org.
Published by The West Volusia Beacon from Sep. 20 to Oct. 4, 2021.