Kids Fight Cancer was Arlington Hts. businessman’s legacy

Life stories

Jim Pesoli ~ 1955-2011

By Eileen O. Daday

Daily Herald correspondent

Jim Pesoli seemed nearly invincible after he fought off cancer four times and started a foundation, Kids Fight Cancer, that raised more than $2 million.

But the effects of years of treatment finally caught up with him. He died Tuesday from a blood infection that had attacked his major organs. He was 56.

“People called him the man of steel,” says his son, Jim, of Arlington Heights, who ran the nonprofit cancer organization with his father. “We thought he would bounce back one more time and defy the odds, but this time he didn’t.”

Pesoli, of Arlington Heights, was first diagnosed at 19. When the disease came back a second time at age 30, and after enduring nine months of chemotherapy and radiation, in addition to a bone-marrow transplant, he started Kids Fight Cancer.

Family members say that he was motivated by his two young sons during his difficult treatment, and that he could not imagine a child enduring the same regimen. He founded Kids Fight Cancer in 1985 with $5,000 in donations made by guests during a party thrown by his wife to celebrate his recovery.

Pesoli earmarked the funds to reopen the activity center within the pediatric oncology department at Children’s Memorial Hospital in Chicago.

From 1985 to 2009, Kids Fight Cancer was affiliated with Children’s Memorial, raising more than $2 million from many events. During those years, Pesoli would fight off cancer two more times while working full time running an electrical contracting company that did commercial work in the city and suburbs.

Just over 18 months ago, Pesoli and his board members decided to expand their fundraising efforts to other cancer centers, but they maintained a good relationship with officials at Children’s.

Thomas Sullivan, Children’s Foundation president, described Pesoli as a “deeply caring individual” as evidenced by his empathy for children suffering from cancer.

“His efforts with Kids Fight Cancer allowed Jim to touch and enhance untold numbers of young lives, both here at Children’s Memorial and through other organizations that benefitted from his good works,” Sullivan said. “We remain grateful for his partnership in our important work, which will have a lasting impact.”

One of the major fundraisers for Kids Fight Cancer was its annual fall gala. The event is scheduled to take place Oct. 15 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont.

For the last 10 years, his son says, the event has drawn 1,500 guests, and he expect this year’s gala to go on as planned, though without their motivational leader.

“No matter how much he endured, or how difficult the treatment, he always did it with a smile,” his son, Jim, adds. “There was just something about him. He was a beacon of light, and an inspiration for other people.”

Besides his son, Pesoli is survived by his wife, Susan, another son, Joe (Michelle) and two grandchildren.

Visitation will take place from 3-9 p.m. Sunday at St. James Parish Center, 820 N. Arlington Heights Road, before an 11 a.m. funeral Mass Monday at St. James Church, 831 N. Arlington Heights Road, both in Arlington Heights.