Max C. Poole's Obituary
Poole, Max Calvin, 73, passed away at home on November 22, 2023 after an eight-year battle with cancer. He was born in Salisbury, North Carolina on July 18, 1950 to Louie “Jack” Calvin Poole and Frances Agner Poole. Max attended East Rowan High School and graduated with a B.S. from UNC-Charlotte in 1972. He earned a Ph.D. from the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta, GA in 1979.
Dr. Poole was an educator and administrator. He worked at East Carolina University in Greenville, NC from 1979 thru 2004. He taught cell biology to the first-year medical students at the ECU Brody School of Medicine for 18 years. He was appointed Associate Dean for the ECU Graduate School from 1994 to 2005. Max moved to Orlando, Florida to serve as the Senior Associate Dean for the University of Central Florida Graduate School from 2005 until June 2014. In August 2014, he was named Dean of the Graduate School at Appalachian State University in Boone, NC where he served until his retirement in 2018. In 2019, Augusta University (formerly MCG) presented Dr. Poole the Distinguished Alumnus Award.
Max volunteered with the Pitt County, NC Communities in Schools program working to reduce drop outs in the local high schools. He also volunteered for 9 years with the Pitt County, NC Eastern Pines Rescue-EMS at Station 34. He served as a Sunday School teacher at Black Jack FWB church for a number of years. He most recently attended Faith Baptist in Wesley Chapel, Florida.
He was generous with his time, had a ready smile, a great sense of optimism and was a light to all who met him. He worked tirelessly to bring people together both at work and in the community. He had a genuine appreciation of history and the arts.
He loved to collect and preserve political items and World War I and II posters. He loved antiquing, craft shows and going to the latest movies. Max treasured his time with his family and friends. He was beloved by his family and friends.
Dr. Poole was preceded in death by his father Jack and his grandparents. He is survived by his mother Frances Poole of Salisbury, NC, his wife Susan Pell Poole, his son Aaron Poole and wife Kelly Bristol, grandson Jackson Poole, and granddaughters Amelia Poole and Harper Poole of Wesley Chapel, FL. He is also survived by his brother Randy Poole and wife Jeannie of Waxhaw, NC and brother Tony Poole and wife Beth of New London, NC well as numerous nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be from 11-noon on Friday, December 1 at Trinity Memorial Gardens funeral home and cemetery in Trinity, Florida. Entombment with service will follow at noon.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you consider a donation to your favorite charity or to Moffitt Cancer Center at https://www.moffitt.org/give/ on Max’s behalf.
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