David Mustafa Polis was a lifelong journalist. In fact, much of this obituary are his own words.
He was the fifth of eight siblings, born to immigrants from Ordu, Turkey, and Woolwich, England, on August 12, 1938, in Buffalo, New York. As a young lad, he helped run his father’s grocery store, which fed Black Rock families in need through the great depression. His inquisitive mind led him to travel to California and attend college. He graduated with a BA in Journalism from Valley State, now Cal State Northridge, where he was one of the first editors of the school newspaper. While in school, he lived with family and paid his way by running gas stations and serving as a sports reporter.
During a 35-year career working for six different newspapers, David covered military affairs, professional sports teams, politics, law enforcement and the entertainment industry. He learned investigative reporting at Columbia University in New York and had numerous front-page bylines on a variety of subjects, including the mafia and the rubbish industry. That led to his next career in Washington State where he started Snohomish County’s first recycling/waste reduction program. He also helped the City of Seattle address their diminishing capacity for garbage burial by hauling it by train to eastern Oregon. Later, he started his own consulting business and received national recognition helping cities from Washington, Oregon and California meet new state standards requiring a reduction in landfill disposal and an increase in recycling and reuse.
David was familiar with tragedy but was determined to get on with living the best life possible. He lost his right eye at four years old, nearly fell over Niagara Falls as an early teen, survived a coma for weeks as the result of meeting up with drunken drivers on Crow Valley Road, Orcas, two decades ago that left him with an enduring brain injury. That did not slow him down. He authored a book about his brain injury, Out of the Box, in the hopes of helping others.
He first moved to Orcas Island in 1998 with his wife Bev, and they became full-time residents in 2004. Early on he was active in the Deer Harbor Community Club and worked with neighbors to rebuild the kitchen. He loved island living that allowed for lazy walks in the woods, dabbling with watercolor painting (especially flowers), chatting with anyone and everyone in town, taking in entertainment at Orcas Center, or driving his Miata around town in all seasons with the top down. He documented his extensive travels using his love of photography to share with anyone who was interested. He loved sports and was an avid Buffalo Bills fan, and never lost faith that someday they would win the Super Bowl.
As the last of his siblings to pass away, David died on August 22 at the age of 86 in Anacortes, surrounded by his family. He is survived by his wife Bev Polis, sons Paul Polis (wife Lisa), Corey Polis (wife Asenath), stepson Barrett O’Gorman (wife Jill), stepdaughter Brandyn Hancocks (husband Joel), and three grandchildren: Ryan O’Gorman, Kyle O’Gorman, and Eden Hancocks. Our many memories of Dave will live forever in our hearts.
Contributions can be made in David’s memory to the Orcas Island Physical Therapy, 49 Deye Lane, Eastsound, WA 98245, to honor their tireless dedication and devotion in helping so many islanders live the best life possible. Or a tax-deductible contribution can be made to the Orcas Senior Center, PO Box 1653, Eastsound, WA 98245, to help in their ongoing efforts to assist those with dementia.
