Shirley Pizer

Founder of Peoria Ballet

PEORIA - Shirley Edlin Pizer, 90, formerly of Peoria, Ill., died Sunday, Feb. 7, 2010, in Burlington, Vt.

Born Sept. 21, 1919, in Moline, Ill., to Sally K. Edlin and Robert Nathan Edlin, she married Dr. Samuel M. Pizer, former owner and founder of Neu Optical Company, on Nov. 25, 1943. Dr. Pizer preceded her in death May 9, 1985.

She is survived by two children, Mrs. Deborah Hermalyn (Lawrence) of Highland Park, Ill., and Mr. Charles L. Pizer (Penny) of Burlington, Vt.; and five grandchildren, Sarah Beth Hermalyn, Samuel Meyer Pizer, Ashley Nicole Pizer, Robert Nathan Pizer and Molly Pizer.

One of the few women in the country at the time who owned and operated her own accredited advertising agency (and had national accounts), Mrs. Pizer pioneered the use of television advertising. She worked from home with young children at a time when most women with children did not work. Her agency, Ken Publishing Company, was begun in 1950.

Mrs. Pizer, in addition to her business, was active in a number of local civic organizations.

In 1965, after what is now a historic train ride with Jack Slater, former ballet master, she promoted the idea of starting a ballet company in Peoria and became a founder of the company that exists today as the Peoria Ballet Company. With determination and organizational ability that would bulldoze the ballet into reality for Peoria, Mrs. Pizer served over many years as chief promoter and tirelessly sought publicity from media and donations from sometimes reluctant supporters. At the first concert, held in April 1966, Jim Maloof, still a long way from being mayor, sang the "Star-Spangled Banner." At the 30-year anniversary performance, Mayor Maloof presented Mrs. Pizer with the Key to the City of Peoria for her many civic contributions, especially to the arts. The city of Springfield, Ill., had also previously awarded Mrs. Pizer Key to the city of Springfield for her civic work on behalf of children.

Mrs. Pizer was a life member and former president of the Peoria Women's Committee of Brandeis University, former board member of the Peoria Chapter of Hadassah and B'Nai B'rith Women and a member of the Peoria Advertising and Selling Club. She was a longtime member of Anshai Emeth Temple and Temple Sisterhood. She was an avid supporter of Bradley University and a member of the Bradley Town and Gown Club. Mrs. Pizer supported Lakeview Center for the Arts and The Peoria Opera Company.

Mrs. Pizer attended the University of Illinois and the Art Institute of Chicago, and received her B.A. degree from the University of Chicago. Prior to her marriage, she served as vice president of Parish, Emmish, and Lovejoy and Koenigsburg, Edlin and O'Hare, Chicago advertising firms.

During World War II, in 1942, she worked for the government at the Rock Island Arsenal and attended drafting school. She studied mechanical drawing and worked on some civil defense books. She did one book for Pittsburgh, Pa., and one for Kansas City, Mo. While working in Rock Island, she met her husband of 44 years, Dr. Pizer. They were married on Thanksgiving Day in 1943.

A graveside service will be conducted at Springdale Cemetery at 1:30 p.m. today, Feb. 10.