Polo Mihali

April 24, 1932 - December 5, 2024  

Polo Mihali passed away peacefully on December 5, 2024, in Wayne, New Jersey, surrounded by his loving family. He was 92 years old.

Born on April 24, 1932, in the village of Krinë, Albania, Polo carried a deep love for his hometown throughout his life. During his childhood, he, his mother, Amalia, and sister Marina, went through difficult times together due to the Second World War, as their home was burned down by Occupation forces and the three were left with little to eat. Their grit and tight bond as a family got them through these times, instilling the values of family and hard work in Polo that he would honor and emulate for the rest of his life.  

He served as the Commissioner of Animal Husbandry for the government of Albania for 30 years, dedicating his career to the development and improvement of the nation's agricultural sector. Polo loved traveling, gardening, and writing. A man of few words, Polo expressed his devotion for his homeland, family and friends by writing poetry.

At the age of 21, he met his wife, Katerina, with whom he would spend the next 70 years. Their enduring partnership was an inspiration to all who knew them. Together, they filled their home with laughter and music, performing original duets at family gatherings and participating in fierce dominos tournaments.  

In 1992, following his father’s footsteps, Polo immigrated with his family to the United States, where he continued to work until he retired at the age of 78.

Always a man of action, Polo could rarely be found sitting still. His curious mind and handy nature led him to constantly tinker with gadgets and machinery, from rewiring the toaster when an indicator light went out, taping headsets back together, and keeping meticulous notebooks of instructions from his grandchildren on how to use the latest computer programming.

Polo's legacy lives on through his wife, Katerina, three children, Aida, Aneta, and George, eight grandchildren, Mariela, Blerta, Valbona, Stela, Gent, Apostolos, Katerina, and Efthymia, and three great-grandchildren, Stevie, Marlow, and Jack Jr., who brought him immense happiness in his later years.

A beloved husband, father, grandfather and friend, Polo will be deeply missed by all who knew him. His warmth, love, and dedication to both family and country will continue through the generations he leaves behind.