Todd Jeffrey Polk, 80, of Doylestown, PA passed away on February 28, 2025. He was born on July 7, 1944 to Samuel and Adelaide Polk. The youngest of five, his sisters still affectionately called him "baby brother" until the day he died. In a family of boisterous siblings, he brought quiet and calm into the fray. They admired him for his humble brilliance and his many accomplishments, and fondly recall his love of music—playing "Hey Jude" by the Beatles on repeat.

Todd graduated from Delhaas High School in 1962. He was the first in his family to go to college, and graduated from Drexel with a degree in electrical engineering. He loved to tell a story of a former professor of his who berated the Drexel students for not being as smart as the University of Pennsylvania kids across the street. Todd took great satisfaction in informing his professor that he had, in fact, been accepted to Penn, but chose Drexel for the lower tuition, paying his way through school.

Todd worked in the medical device field for 50 years. Early in his career he helped design devices and held several patents, including patents in obstetrics relating to tubal ligation. Later in his career, he shifted into roles with regulatory affairs, helping advance devices through FDA approval, often coordinating clinical trials and traveling all over the world for his work. One of his favorite travel stories involved retrieving a lost medical device—by bribing an ever-changing number of officials, depending on which version of the tale he told.

In 1978, he married Patricia Butrymowicz. During their 17 year marriage, he became a father to Nicole and Ryan. Never afraid of a start-up company gamble, in the 90s he spent a year each in Santa Barbara, CA and Alpharetta, GA before returning to Bucks County, PA. He relished living 3 miles from the beach in Santa Barbara, but hated living so far from his children.

Todd had a long list of hobbies. He was a member of the Bucks Mount Ski Club for 50 years, taking countless bus trips in the Northeast and trips out west with his club friends. He skied until a few years before his death, and took a handful of trips with another club skiing the French, Swiss, and Italian Alps. He enjoyed a walking group at both Tyler and Peace Valley parks. He camped at Havasu Falls well into his 60s. Todd was a big fan of Scandi noir books, movies, and series, and was always on the hunt for more. He collected LGB trains he set up every Christmas for many years and added a Christmas Village in later years. He never bought a motorcycle, but got his license late in life. In his younger years he had a boat and waterskied up and down the Delaware River. A true car enthusiast, he lent his Firebird to his nephew, and still drove his Honda S2000 convertible on beautiful days. Todd was an avid cyclist, riding with clubs and on his own, but his favorite ride was on the towpath between Washington Crossing and Lambertville with his kids, stopping for pizza in town before the ride back. He did spin class twice a week right up until he passed away.

He leaves behind many circles of friends, from his morning breakfast crew at the Bagel Barrel to his long-time dancing buddies. Friends recall how everyone liked Todd, how generous he was, how he talked about his kids with pride. They will remember tubing down the Delaware, rolling their eyes at petty fights during PWP gatherings, his Spongebob Squarepants costume, attending Trans-Siberian Orchestra concerts, plays, and trips to Peddler's Village and Longwood Gardens for seasonal events; as well as outings to the Barnes Museum, Philadelphia Flower Show, Ringing Rocks, and New Hope Auto Show. They will miss his famous parties too.

His kids cherish countless memories of his constant presence in their lives. Being on the boat with him, ski trips to Sugarbush, playing bumper pool at Mad River Barn, roller coasters at Dorney Park and Great Adventure, swimming at the YMCA, being at every soccer game, recital, and school play. Ryan recalls opening a Christmas gift from 'Santa'— a keyboard—only for his dad to blurt out a little too quickly that he had the batteries ready. Nicole's favorite childhood memories with her dad were vacation at the beach in LBI when he would carry her out into the ocean, help her jump the waves, feeling safe in his arms.

Todd is survived by his sisters, Lee Lawrence, Gail Kohler, Sherry Van Cleve; his children Nicole Polk and Ryan Polk; and his many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents and his brother Lane Polk.

A memorial picnic will be held on Friday, April 25th, 2025 from 1-4PM at the Hickory Nut Picnic Grove located in Tyler State Park, Newtown PA. In the case of rain, the gathering will move to his kid's childhood home located 5 minutes from the park at 3 Joyce Kilmer Dr, Holland PA. Please RSVP at event link.

Access to Hickory Nut Picnic Grove is on Main Park Road with entrances to the park from route 532/413 bypass or route 332. 

Park map link 

https://elibrary.dcnr.pa.gov/…

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