Dr. Tara Christine Polek
May 24, 1973 - February 13, 2024
Dr. Tara Christine Polek died peacefully Tuesday, February 13th, 2024 at her home in Shoreline, Washington.
Tara was born in Limestone, Maine in 1973, and grew up in Norwalk, Ohio, graduating from Norwalk High School in 1991. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Cincinnati in 1995 with a Bachelor of Science in Biology. She earned her Doctor of Philosophy from Baylor College of Medicine in 2001. After completing graduate school Tara worked at MD Anderson Cancer Center and the National Institutes of Health.
Tara moved to Seattle to be with her then future husband and worked for Seattle Children’s Hospital in The Office of Research. She was a tremendous contributor to the Children’s Hospital and felt strongly about advancing the health of children.
Tara enjoyed spending time with her family, running, hiking, reading, history, cooking and baking and visiting new places in the Pacific Northwest and elsewhere like Hawaii, Alaska, England, and Australia. Tara was an adventurous person who sought to learn about the world and its people. She greatly enjoyed all the Pacific Northwest had to offer and was an avid hiker and explorer of the many sites and cities. She loved the fresh food and wine in Washington, including the wild salmon and Rainier cherries.
She is survived by her husband Steven and his family in Australia and England, her children Owen and Claire of Shoreline, WA; her parents, James and Carmen Polek of Norwalk, OH, her sibling, Tonya Polek of Port Chester, NY and brother Nathan Polek with sister-in-law Erica Polek and four Nieces and nephews of Lewis Center, OH.
Tara left many friends and as a reflection of her approach to life, they span across the United States and the world.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the following causes:
