Wizards owner Abe Pollin remembered as sportsman, philanthropist at public memorial service

Memorial service honors late Wizards owner Pollin

WASHINGTON — Former Washington Wizards owner Abe Pollin was remembered as a civic-minded visionary, passionate sportsman and generous philanthropist at a public memorial service.

Pollin, 85, died Nov. 24 from corticobasal degeneration, a rare brain disease. Pollin had donated $3 million toward finding a cure for the brain condition at the time of his death.

Tuesday’s public memorial service was held at Verizon Center, which Pollin built with his own money and opened in 1997 as the home for the Wizards and the NHL’s Washington Capitals.

The entire Wizards team attended the ceremony, along with fans, former players, co-workers and employees, and those touched by Pollin’s kindness and charity work.