Sam Polley, 81; co-owned Nick's Restaurant in Theater District

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Sam C. Polley, formerly of Belmont and a former co-owner of Nick's
Restaurant in Boston's Theater District, died Tuesday, April 8, 2003,
in his Palm Beach, Florida, home, at the age of 81.

Born in Omaha, Nebraska, he joined the Army during World War II and
was part of the invasion of Normandy.

In 1966, at age 44, Mr. Polley married the woman he called his soul
mate, Alice Lee (Caracostas). "I came to Massachusetts so I could find
you," she said he told her.

"He was a wonderful guy. His family came first, a real family man,"
she said. "He worked hard and it paid off. He was a good man and he
supported his family and his church. But he never blew his own horn."

In 1958, Mr. Polley and two brothers, Nick and George, bought a place
called the Town House and -- despite the warnings of a business
executive who said Boston was dying -- transformed it into Nick's
Restaurant. Under Mr. Polley's ownership, it prospered and became a
popular hangout for stars performing in Boston shows.

Sometimes, the performers would gather around the piano to entertain
themselves and diners, Mr. Polley told the Globe in a 1978 interview.
Other times, they would rent part of the restaurant for cast parties
or events.

"Liz Taylor had a beautiful party in there when she married Richard
Burton," Alice Polley recalled. "He had pictures of her all over. They
really made a successful place out of a 'dying' place."

After retiring in 1983, Mr. Polley and his wife moved to Palm Beach,
where they had spent winters for many years. They returned to
Massachusetts every summer to vacation on Cape Cod and be near family.
"He touched everybody he met," Alice Polley said. "He retired at a
young age so he could do the things he really loved."

Mr. Polley was a past president of the Restaurant Association of Rhode
Island, a member of the Shriners in Providence, and past president of
the National Food Services.