Mary Kathryn "Polly" Anthony

Mary Kathryn Anthony "Polly"

November 15, 1952 - September 29, 2013

After a courageous fight, Polly lost her battle with pancreatic cancer. Polly passed away surrounded by her family and beloved French bulldogs, Reggie and Meg.

Polly was born in Alexandria, Virginia and moved with her family to Dayton, Ohio, before spending her formative years on the Palos Verdes Peninsula, CA. Polly had a lifelong love affair with popular music. In 1974, she began a music industry career that spanned four decades. In Los Angeles, after working briefly at RCA Records and Management III, she joined what would become the Sony Music family at Epic Associated Labels as an assistant in 1978, moved to New York in 1988, and eventually became President of Epic Records in 1997, making her the first female in history to helm a major record label. She culminated her career at Sony in 2003, returning to Los Angeles to join the Universal Music Group as president of DreamWorks Records and later co-president of Geffen Records. In 2006, she became head of TV and film for UMG, transitioning into executive producer on film and TV projects. Since leaving UMG, she worked on TV, film and theatrical projects.

Polly's love of and generosity toward her family, friends, relatives, colleagues and dogs was obvious to all who knew her. She possessed incredible style and talent, whether cooking and entertaining at her beautiful home, or in fashioning the perfect outfit for herself or others. She was an inspiration and a mentor to many; had tremendous curiosity and focus, and will be greatly missed.

She was preceded in death by her father, Bernard J. Anthony, as well as her grandparents, William and Helen Anthony, and Theodore and Ethel Haley. She is survived by her mother, Patricia H. Anthony, of Rancho Palos Verdes, CA; sister, Carrie Kelley (Bobby) of Stevinson, CA; brother, Ted Anthony (Teresa) of Austin, TX; sister, Betsy Anthony-Brodey of Los Angeles; brother, B.J. Anthony (Elisa) of Hermosa Beach, CA; nieces and nephews, Danny and Alex Kelley, Lily and Quinn Brodey, and Delaney and Marley Anthony.

A private Celebration of Life was recently held in Polly's honor. In lieu of flowers, her family requests that memorial donations be made for pancreatic cancer research to The Polly Anthony Memorial Fund at the City of Hope, 1500 E. Duarte Ave., Duarte CA 91010 (www.cityofhope.org), 626-256-4673; and The Polly Anthony Memorial Fund at the Lustgarten Foundation, 1111 Stewart Ave., Bethpage NY 11714 (www.lustgarten.org), 516-803-2304. Please sign the guestbook at www.dailybreeze.com/obits.