Longtime Fenwick teacher/coach
John Polka, 81, a longtime Fenwick High School teacher and coach, died on Jan. 27, 2024, following a battle with cancer. Born in 1942, the longtime River Forest resident was one of nine educators in his family, including both parents. During his 52 years at Fenwick High School, he taught more than 5,000 students. He retired in 2017 after more than 50 years teaching biology at Fenwick, where he served as chair of the science department and developed the Ecology of the Rainforest and Marine Biology programs, organizing student science trips to countries including Guatemala, Peru and Costa Rica. He was recognized by the National Association of Biology Teachers for his efforts. Former principal Peter Groom said, “The science department developed into one of the finest in the nation” under the guidance of Polka, who “impacted the lives of countless young men and women for decades.”
“Many Fenwick students went on to careers in science because of John’s inspiration,” said faculty emeritus Roger Finnell, who taught with Polka for five decades. “When Fenwick was considering going co-ed, John was in a group of department chairs who worked hard to show the community the strong support from the Fenwick faculty in favor of co-education. His many decades of faculty leadership will be long remembered.”
He also positively affected the lives of so many athletes, creating Fenwick’s first-ever cross-country team in 1966. Former Illinois Governor Pat Quinn was his first team captain. Polka led six teams to Chicago Catholic League titles over 43 years of coaching, and he was inducted into the CCL Coaches Hall of Fame and the Illinois Track and Cross Country Coaches Association Hall of Fame. Later in his career, he served as an Illinois High School Association rules interpreter, consultant and meet official.
“I’ve always felt coaching rounds out the teaching experience,” Polka told the Chicago Tribune in 2001. “As long as it’s fun, there’s no reason to stop.”
A Brother Rice graduate, Polka attended St. Mary’s University in Winona, Minnesota and earned a master’s degree from Chicago State University. After retiring from Fenwick, he continued to serve as a consultant to the AP Biology College Board and volunteered as a tour guide at Shedd Aquarium.