CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCIV) — Prominent Charleston-area business mogul Edwin Strauss Pearlstine died Thursday, according to an online obituary. He was 90.
A cause of death was not immediately available.
Born in Charleston to Jeanette and Edwin S. Pearlstine Sr., Edwin Strauss Pearlstine grew up with his older sister Jane Pearlstine Meyerson next to Hampton Park on Moultrie Street. In 1971, Edwin purchased the family business from his Uncle Milton, becoming a fourth-generation owner, and changed the name of the business to Pearlstine Distributors, Inc.
He then proceeded to turn it into a business empire, making it one of the largest privately owned businesses in South Carolina.
“Throughout his career, Edwin treated every person he engaged with as if they were family, regardless if they were a customer, top industry executive, political friend, or one of hundreds of employees under his leadership,” his obituary reads. ” Edwin made a point to lift up his employees, enabling families to purchase their first homes, cars, and send their children to college.”
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In addition to his dedication to Pearlstine Distributors, Edwin was an active entrepreneur. He was a partner and owner of the South Carolina Stingrays and founded a real estate company to develop The Villages of St. Johns Woods on Johns Island.
Some of Edwin’s philanthropic legacies are the Hollings Cancer Center’s Barbara and Edwin Pearlstine Healing Garden, the America Cancer Society’s Pearlstine Hope Lodge, the establishment of the Pearlstine-Lipov Center for Southern Jewish Culture, major contributions to the MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children’s Hospital, the International African American Museum, and the establishment of the Pearl Theatre in the Charleston Stage West Ashley Theatre Center.
He is survived by his two daughters, Susan Pearlstine and Jan Lipov, and Jan’s husband, Larry Lipov, who was a loving and devoted son-in-law; his grandchildren Amy Bower (Joseph), Dana McAfee (Weston), Michael Foster, Edwin “Win” Lipov, and Halle Lipov; three great-grandchildren, Barbara Pearlstine Bower, Dorothy Williams Bower, and Beau Fisher McAfee; and his nieces Cathy Meyerson, Ellen Sheridan, and Carol Rice.
His funeral service will be held at 2:00 pm on Sunday, Aug. 24, at Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim, according to his online obituary.