The Quinlivan Foundation in Action

Benjamin Polson was born in 1988 in St. Louis, Missouri. He grew up in the Bevo Mill neighborhood of South City with his sister and his parents. His mother was a teacher, and his father was a city firefighter. He was close to his family. He began playing hockey at the age of just five. He attended Catholic schools where his mother taught at Holy Innocents and Saint Raphael the Archangel. Ben attended Vianney for high school. He was a strong student and athlete. He loved music and was quite the dancer. He made friends everywhere he went.

For college he traveled to Springfield and obtained an economics degree from Missouri State. He then attended Drury University, where he earned an MBA. During his time there he traveled to China with some fellow students and walked the Great Wall. He then moved to Kansas City, where he earned his law degree from UMKC.

After nine years of achievements in higher education, Ben’s enthusiasm for the outdoors led him to Vail, Colorado. There he worked as a ski instructor on the slopes. He was a natural athlete. He loved to ski, mountain bike, hike, and whitewater raft.

All the while, Ben was contemplating a life of service—joining the St. Louis Fire Department to become a firefighter like his father. When the opportunity arose, he returned home to answer the call to duty. He received his badge as a graduate of the Kenneth G. Smith Sr. Memorial Recruit Class on March 20, 2020. He was very proud to be sworn in as a firefighter.

Ben was eager to be of service to the city. He began work at Engine House 26. Later he moved to Engine House 13, where he served the neighborhood of Hamilton Heights.

Ben enjoyed spending his off days with friends and family. He would often frequent Forest Park, where he spent time with his mother, sister, and brother-in-law at the Art Museum, Muny, Boathouse, and Zoo. He enjoyed going to the Lake of the Ozarks for weekends of fishing with his father, a retired fire captain. He liked to golf, play hockey, and watch football. He had many amazing friends and made time for all.

Ben’s life was lost in the line of duty while battling a house fire on January 13, 2022.

Some people make you laugh a little louder, smile a little brighter, and live life a little better. Ben was one of those people. He will always be in the hearts of many.

In Ben's memory, we offer our Ben Polson Memorial Scholarship, open to students who have a first responder parent. This scholarship offers up to $10,000 per year for financial support so St. Louis students are able to attend the school they wish.

 Scholarship Application.docx 

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