Jorge R. Polo

Jorge R. Polo, 75, passed away on January 28, 2018 in Atlanta, GA. He was born in Barranquilla, Colombia in 1942 to Pedro and Clotilde Polo who preceded him in death. In 1968 he married his adored wife, Alicia, and they would have celebrated 50 years of marriage in July. Jorge was a proud Colombian, as well as a proud citizen of the United States. He was naturalized in 1984 and lived in Muscle Shoals, AL, and later in Atlanta, GA.

A graduate in chemical engineering from the Universidad de los Andes and the University of Michigan, Jorge realized his mission in this life when he came to work at the International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC) in 1976. He made Muscle Shoals, AL, a place he always loved, home for himself and his family. At IFDC he enjoyed conducting fertilizer research to help developing countries throughout the world to maximize crop production. In fact, Jorge said of his contributions at IFDC:

“Technical assistance is the avenue through which IFDC’s mission materializes. Through technical assistance, indigenous production of fertilizers increases, helping to ease hunger in the world. From a personal viewpoint, I get the greatest satisfaction from my job in believing that my calculations will ultimately translate into the smiling face of a well-fed child somewhere.”

Jorge was a highly accomplished fertilizer expert, and he authored numerous papers and conducted international workshops on fertilizer technology. He was recognized on a number of occasions for his contributions in this field. He traveled extensively to Asia, Europe, Africa, and Latin America, and his work assignments often took him to some of the world’s most challenging environments.

When not working, Jorge was known for his involvement with volunteer organizations all over the Shoals area. He served on the board and chaired the Supervisory Committee of the TVA Credit Union and devoted his time to organizations such as the Muscle Shoals Kiwanis Club, the Muscle Shoals High School Key Club, Reading is Fundamental, and the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program. He was well-known to the children of his IFDC colleagues as Santa Claus. For nearly 30 years, he arrived on a red fire truck to IFDC’s annual Christmas parties and handed out presents to the children.

With regard to family, Jorge was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather. He leaves behind his wife, Alicia Verano Polo, a daughter, Dr. Claudia Polo Vance Ross (Thomas), and a son, Jorge A. Polo (Laura). He loved nothing better than spending time with his beloved granddaughters, Alexandra Vance, Caroline Vance, Anna Sophia Polo, and Julia Elise Polo. He also leaves behind much-loved siblings Clotilde Polo Cepeda, Dr. Richard Polo (Annie), Dr. Pedro Polo (Alma) and a host of family members and friends.

On a more personal note, Jorge had a noble heart, a sunny personality, and invariably he looked for the good in everyone. He was fond of Sudoku, and never met a food he didn’t like. His loved ones will admit, however, that he had a special penchant for eggs and café con leche. He enjoyed going out to restaurants, and in his later days was known for telling waiters, “This food isn’t good, it’s GREAT!” It is an understatement to say that his jokes and his positive outlook will be missed.

There will be a visitation on Saturday, February 3 beginning 3:00 with a Celebration of Life service beginning at 4:00 at A.S. Turner and Sons Funeral Home in Decatur, GA. The family would like to thank Jorge’s doctors at Emory and the wonderful staff of Plymouth Harbor and Heartland Hospice in Atlanta, GA for their care and dedication. In lieu of flowers, please consider making memorials to the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America or to Kiwanis International.

Feel free to leave the family your condolences via the guestbook provided.