Abba Isa Polangin

Abba I. Polangin, 85, of Bowie, MD, passed away on March 14, 2024 after a 10-year battle with Alzheimer’s Disease.

Abba was born on April 26, 1938 to Alexander & Nelli Polangin in Sharon, PA.  After graduating Sharon High School in 1956, he went on to earn his Bachelor of Architecture at Penn State University in University Park, PA. He then attended the University of North Carolina School of Urban and Regional Planning Chapel Hill for a Masters in Planning.

Abba married Arlene Kirson in 1962, They had two children, Brian Scott Polangin, and Jeffrey Mark Polangin.  They were divorced April 1982.

In 1963, Abba entered the US Air Force as an architect for the Surgeon General of the Airforce in that Department’s Facilities Division with the rank of Second lieutenant. As an Area Medical Construction Liaison Officer, he was responsible for the programming, planning and design of all Air Force medical Facilities at more than 40 Air Force medical facilities at bases throughout the United States. On completion of his tour, he was promoted to the rank of First Lieutenant and later on completion of his reserve commitment promoted to the rank of Captain.  He was relieved from duty and was presented with the Air Force Commendation Medal in February 1966 by the Secretary of the Air Force, Harold Brown.

On leaving the Air Force in 1966, Abba became the manager of the Washington branch office of the Philadelphia based George M. Ewing Company.  The fifteen-man office developed a large number of specialized facilities including the US Secret Service Training Center in Maryland, various facilities at the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, and other classified military facilities.  Additionally, he was the project Architect for the alterations and additions project at the 1100 bed Philadelphia Naval Hospital; medical-surgical facilities at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, Washington, D.C.; The Chester-Crozier Hospital in Chester, Pennsylvania; and extensive remodeling of the Nazareth Hospital, a 350-bed facility in Philadelphia, as well as many other relatively minor hospital and laboratory facilities.

From 1969 to 1972 Abba was the Director of the National Association of Homebuilders Institute of Environmental Design, responsible for the programs and activities relative e to the fields of architecture, planning and environmental design for the housing industry.

From 1972 to 1974 Abba worked as the Director of the Medical Facilities Division of the firm of Stottler, Stagg & Associated – Brevard Engineering, in Hyattsville, Maryland.

In 1975 Abba opened his own firm trading as AIP Architects at 2424 Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C. and then in 1978, he moved to larger facilities at 3029 M St in Georgetown.   The practice covered all domestic building types except residential housing.

In 1980 Abba moved the office to 7411 Riggs Road, Adelphi, Maryland, to serve the increasing population growth in Prince George’s County.  This work was directed to the development of heavy commercial and office facilities, industrial, educational, warehouse, and other specialized use facilities.  On the 4^th of July 1986 Abba married Diane Marie (Egan) Chanaka in Millersville, Maryland. They have lived in Bowie since 1986. Diane had two children from a previous marriage, Dawn Marie Markward, and Pauline Katherine Markward.

In 1990 the office moved to Upper Marlboro for closer access to the County government and to concentrate on the growth within the county. In September, 2004, Abba and Diane purchased the office space at 3028 Mitchellville Road in Bowie, Maryland. The office space houses Abba’s architectural practice, AIP Architects, and Diane’s tax service, Total Tax Service.
Abba was predeceased by his parents Alexander and Nelli Polangin. He is survived by his wife, Diane; his sister, Rochelle Greenfield; his children, Brian and Jeffrey Polangin and his step daughters Dawn Denbow and Pauline Markward, and his 4 grandchildren, Donn Moorman and his wife Taryn, Clayton Denbow and his wife Shelby, Jonathan Drews and Michael Drews; and his 4 great-grandchildren, Alexander Moorman, Ellie Moorman, Maximus Moorman and Astrid Denbow.

A celebration of life will take place at Beall’s Funeral home on Tuesday March 19^th from 12-2 with internment at Cheltenham Veterans Cometary at 2:45. Please refer to the Events tab for more information.