Albert E. Pohland

Albert Edgar Pohland, (89) of Laurel, MD passed away at home on January 28, 2025.

He was born in 1935 to Arnold Ernst Pohland and Eda K. Petermann in Oconomowoc, WI.

Albert was a member of Our Savior Lutheran Church.

After receiving his PhD in chemistry, he retired from Food and Drug Administration where he was a chemist for 35 years. He then worked for 10 years for AOAC International as the chief scientific officer of chemistry. His passion for chemistry started in high school after his first lab and continued throughout his lifetime.

He enjoyed gardening and fishing. But most of all he enjoyed his seven children and 13 grandchildren.

He is survived by Linda, his wife of 58 years and sons Michael, Rob and Tim Pohland and Oriyomi Anibaba and his daughters, Teresa Jackson and Corinne Pohland and his brother Ed Pohland and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his son, Alan, and siblings Grace, Paul and Frederick.

Al (aka Dad) had a sharp wit and a gift for debate, always playing devil’s advocate—not to argue, but to challenge us to think beyond our initial, narrow perspectives. His sense of humor was unmatched, and his love for adventure knew no bounds. Whether he was casting a fishing line into a still lake, hiking through mountains and valleys, or crossing another national park off his list, he was happiest surrounded by nature. He found just as much joy in the simple pleasures—tending to his garden, sipping unsweetened iced tea, or choosing the most expensive item on the menu, especially if it was lobster. Some of our best memories were made by the fireplace, where he’d sit with a book in hand or lean over a puzzle, a quiet but steady presence. Over the years, we completed countless puzzles together, each one a reminder of his patience and the time he always made for us. He had a library of “dadisms,” each packed with humor and wisdom, but at his core, he was a man who loved deeply. The bond he and our mother, Linda, built within our family was unshakable, and to the very end, all of his children and grandchildren jumped at the chance to be by his side—watching football, working on a puzzle, or simply sitting together in comfortable silence, appreciating the beauty of the world. His faith in God never wavered, and his positivity was nothing short of contagious. He was, in every way, the definition of a great father. “You don’t understand the Chemistry.”

A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, February 1, 2025 at 2:00 PM at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Laurel, MD.

Memorial donations can be made to the American Cancer Society or Our Savior Lutheran Church.