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Dennis Pollock dies; Oklahoma Alpha played key role in passage of Genetics Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA)
Dennis Pollock, who led an Alpha-1 support group in Oklahoma that played a key role in the passage of the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) in 2008, died Monday from complications of a lung transplant. He was 51.
Pollock, who received his transplant in August, 2004, at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas, TX, had his wife Shelley, family and friends with him when he died.
“Dennis had an amazing ability to articulate the importance of understanding Alpha-1,” said Alpha-1 Foundation president & CEO John Walsh. “We have GINA protections today, largely thanks to his unwavering commitment. He and Shelley set a tremendous example for all of us. He was an inspiration, and we will be forever grateful for his talent and leadership. Dennis was a dear friend for many years, and on behalf of the Alpha-1 Foundation Board and myself, our heartfelt condolences to Shelley and the Pollock family.”
Pollock was a member of the board of the Alpha-1 Association. He was one of the Association’s first Peer Guides and was a member of the Support Group Leader Advisory Council.
With his support group, he ran the Alpha Okies Golf Classic every year as a fundraiser for the Alpha-1 Foundation’s research programs. He was featured on the cover of the Foundation’s 2009 Annual Report. 
In his interview for the annual report, Pollock recalled a key moment in the effort to get GINA passed. Pollock visited the office of Oklahoma Sen. Tom Coburn, who had placed a hold on the bill, preventing it from coming to a vote on the Senate floor.
An aide said that Sen. Coburn would not release his hold on the GINA bill. “I thought that was arrogant,” Pollock said. “I was so frustrated.”
Pollock left and immediately started calling his Oklahoma support group members on his cell phone.
“I called about 10 people,” he said. “I asked them to call the senator’s office, and to ask 10 of their friends to do the same. Within 45 minutes, I got a call from Sen. Coburn’s office. They asked me to tell the Alphas to stop calling. They were getting so many calls, they couldn’t get anything done. I said, ‘Will you release the hold on the GINA bill?’ They said no. I said, ‘Then I won’t stop the calls.’”
In fact, the calls and emails continued for months. Finally, Coburn did release the bill, and the Senate passed it 95-0. When President Bush signed GINA into law on May 21, 2008, Dennis Pollock was there, representing the Alpha-1 community, which had been working to achieve the law for more than a decade.
Sharon Terry, president & CEO of the Genetic Alliance, fondly recalled his advocacy. “Dennis was a petite man who walked tall; a quiet man you crowded close to for his gentle wisdom; and a healing presence who would smile, duck his head and speak unvarnished truth.”
Pollock believed that organizing the golf tournament changed him personally, and changed his support group. “The golf tournament brought us together. It feels a lot like a family.”
He added: “I’m a happy and contented person. My life is a blessing today. I can’t imagine life without the support group. I can’t imagine not doing the golf tournament now.”
Besides his wife Shelley, he is survived by two children, Tara and Tyler.
Funeral services will be this Friday, Oct. 8, at 11 am, at
Cameron Baptist Church
2621 SW C Avenue
Lawton, OK 73505-7299
(580) 355-4854
Cameronbaptist.com
Burial will be Friday, 1 pm at Fort Sill National Cemetery, Elgin, OK.
Becker Funeral Home, where flowers can be sent, is in charge of arrangements. The address is:
1502 Fort Sill Blvd.
Lawton, OK 73507
(580) 353-3030
Beckerfuneral.com
Visitation on Thursday, 6-8 pm at Becker Funeral Home.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Alpha-1 Foundation, Attn: Development Office, 2937 SW 27th Ave, Suite 302, Miami FL 33133.
Cards may be sent to Shelley Pollock, 6806 SW Baywood Drive, Lawton, OK 73505
