Maude Polo

NEWFANE - On Monday, May 16, Maude Polo, 80, died after a long battle with lung cancer. Maude was born April 9, 1942, to Anthony M. and Maude Sanderson Polo. She grew up in Connecticut and Westchester County, NY. Maude graduated from New Rochelle High School and earned both her BA and MA in education from Hunter College. A lifelong learner, Maude pursued her doctorate in teaching at Columbia University while working full time, completing it at the age of 71.
For more than 50 years Maude was a beloved special education teacher for children in New Rochelle, NY. In this capacity, she touched many lives and many of her students kept in touch with her long after they had moved on. Upon her retirement, she moved from Greenwich, CT, to Newfane, childhood home of her mother, where she volunteered for many cherished local institutions but where she maintained, almost to the end of her life, a part-time role in teaching young people.
Maude was full of life. She was kind, fun-loving, and spirited - always the first to laugh and to make others laugh. She will be greatly missed by those who loved her: her brother Dennis Polo, her sister Angela Abelow Gaither (Terry), her niece Hawley Abelow (Phillip Schmiedl), nephew Justin Abelow (Sallie), great-niece Libby Abelow, great-nephews Campbell Abelow and Kasper Schmiedl, and by her many friends and former students.
A memorial gathering will be held at Posto 22 restaurant in New Rochelle, NY, on Friday, June 3, at 5 pm; and at Newfane Congregational Church on Saturday, June 18, at 2 pm.