About Pearl Kole

She was born Nov. 15, 1932, to Samuel and Rose Singer Siefert in New York City.

She married Art Kole on June 27, 1953, in New York City. She was a teacher and business woman who raised four children and, with her husband Art, helped two of her sons, Danny and Rob, build their business, Kole Imports, Inc.

On Dec. 29, 2003, at the age of 71, she passed away after more than eleven years of battling breast cancer. She is survived by her husband, Art of Redondo Beach; three sons, Rob, Stu, and Danny of Hermosa, Redondo, and Manhattan Beach; her daughter, Ellen Pollack of Calabasas; her sister, Toby Levin of Chicago; and 13 grandchildren.

Before her passing, to honor her, Danny and Rob established the Pearl Endowment for the American Cancer Society research program for breast cancer.

"We thought this was a great way to recognize her and give to something that's very important to her — funding the fight against cancer and specifically breast cancer," says Danny Kole. "My brother and I are partners in a business that our parents helped us start. By showing how much we care about her with the Pearl Endowment, we are able to make the battle better for her."

For Pearl's part, her sons' generosity made a big impact: "When they told me about the endowment, I cried my eyes out, the tears just came. It's quite something. I'm proud of them for thinking of it and doing it."

"I think having the supportive family is the best medicine that someone can have."