Tara Polek Obituary

Dr. Tara Christine Polek

Feb 13, 2024

Shoreline, WA

Dr. Tara Christine Polek died peacefully Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024, at her home in Shoreline, Washington.

Tara was born in Limestone, Maine, in 1973, and grew up in Norwalk, graduating from Norwalk High School in 1991. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from 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 National Institutes of Health.

Tara moved to Seattle, Washington, to be with her then future husband and worked for Seattle Children's Hospital in The Office of Research for the entire time she lived there. 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 is survived by her husband, Steven and his family in Australia and England; children, Owen and Claire, both of Shoreline, Washington; parents, James and Carmen Polek of Norwalk; sister, Tonya Polek of Port Chester, New York; brother, Nathan Polek with sister-in-law, Erica Polek, and four nieces and nephews of Lewis Center.

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 Seattle Children's Hospital (https://www.seattlechildrens.org/), Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center (https://www.fredhutch.org/en.html), or Providence Pediatric Grief Program (https://www.providence.org/locations/wa/hospice-of-seattle/safe-crossings-pediatric-grief-program).