Pearl's class during the Summer Master's Program was not only a fabulous introduction to important issues in the field of educational leadership, but a workshop on good teaching. She set up a world in which our cohort learned as much from each other as from her, where we shared our own relevant experiences as much as ideas from the reading, and where the process of learning itself was as meaningful as the knowledge gained.

Pearl was a mighty force, whether engaging you in one of her classes or being an advocate for her students, ensuring that we were presented all of the best that TC had to offer. My Private School Leadership experience profoundly transformed my perspective on what makes an excellent school, and it changed me in ways that I never anticipated. Prioritizing diversity, equity, and inclusion; relying upon research; and appreciating the rich array of models among independent schools were all marks left by Pearl. Thank you, Pearl, for the impact that you have had on the community of independent schools and on so many of those of us fortunate enough to lead them.

I was one of the early KF'ers ('82) and the first music teacher in the Klingenstein program. It was an interesting time for the program in that Pearl was replacing Fritz (forget his last name) as Director and I imagine the backstage maneuverings were a bit tricky. She handled it with such grace that we were totally unaware of the shake-up. She was our mother hen and excelled at that superbly. I was particularly touched when she invited me to her triplets' bat mitzvah. Part of my course work that year was taking organ lessons with Dr. George Stauffer at St. Paul's Chapel. The spring following my KF year, Dr. Stauffer invited me to play a noon-day recital at St. Paul's Chapel and Pearl brought that year's ('82-'83) KF group to hear it. Pearl was the Queen of Small Touches which empowered all of us on a host of fronts. I loved getting notes from her in succeeding years when I'd make a donation.

Pearl was the epitome of moral leadership, and, having had the privilege of experiencing her vision of education as a Klingenstein Fellow, she has been a role model and beacon of inspiration to me ever since. I probably never worked harder in my life than during the few weeks she brought our group together in January/February 2001, but I also never learned – and understood – more or more deeply than in her company. Pearl had an uncanny ability to demand the seemingly impossible of us – and she did it invariably with that unmistakable, broad, and winning smile and inviting gleam in her eyes. “I cannot do this” or “may I submit my work tomorrow” were not phrases you would use in her presence because, once she accepted you into her program, she also had unshakable confidence in our ability to rise up and meet the challenges she had prepared for us. It is what outstanding educators do with their students – whether they are adolescents or adults. I cannot think of anyone else with as uncompromising a commitment to liberal education, ethical conduct, and unstinting insistence on thoughtful and civil discourse as Pearl. These are qualities we need more than ever in this troubled world of ours and with Pearl we have lost one of their true champions.

At a time when I was adrift in the possibilities of a this livelihood, Pearl kindly added me to her fellowship of provocative and thoughtful educators. She helped me learn that there was more to teaching than curriculum and instruction – that leadership was a responsibility for us all. She is one of the greats of TC who has truly touched and changed the lives of learners at all levels. Her memory will be cherished.

Pearl taught leadership through osmosis, Her modeling, so visible during advising and class discussions, always set a bar and gave me something for which to strive. She demonstrated many principals, but the one I've found most useful is this: sound logic for needed change does not in itself accomplish change. When change serves balanced mutual interest to those benefiting, all ears open. I miss my time, in class, advising, and just bumping into pearl. She was memorable, unique, and read me like a book. The amazing thing is that so many of her students feel just the same.

It feels like I've known Pearl my whole adult life, though it feels like I was just a kid when first met her as a barely qualified Fellow in 1983. Then as now, it was Pearl's grace, humor, irrepressible energy, and boundless creativity that have me remember her as the person who put opportunities on the plate and forced me me partake, In so doing, she really took me from a young teacher for whom the classroom was a pretty simple and solitary pleasure to something closer to a professional educator who had skills and history to learn, knowledge and wisdom to acquire, and a rich network of fellow educators to build and sustain. As I moved around the country, I never knew when I was going to hear from her, but in her disarming manner she would call with some last minute chance to do something really interesting that I never had the time to do but, for her, would do anyway. The rewards were always immeasurable, largely because I got chances to re-enter her magic kingdom and work with that next generation of ambitious students who, like me, were totally inspired by her model and leadership. There was always a bit of "let there be...and there was" quality to Pearl's vision that worked both on the grand scale of bringing complex programs into being but also and most important, on a very individual level of the thousands of teachers who, like me, should credit her for their rich and fulfilling careers.

Pearl was the “Rock” of education with tenacity, vision, and individual care for each and every person she came in contact with. My first meeting with Pearl was in her role on the UNIS Board and then as part of the Klingenstein Fellowship Program. A fun aside, for an evening out with all the Heads visiting Columbia, she bought tickets to a little known show she thought might be interesting to us. She told me the tickets were 30 “bucks” and we had lunch with a scholar then went to the show….It was Hamilton! What an eye for talent! Pearl embodies all the qualities each of us aspire to. To know Pearl is to love and respect her. Pearl is sorely missed around the world.

THESE COMMENTS REFLECT THE SHARED THOUGHTS OF PEOPLE WHO BONDED WITH RICHARD AND PEARL AT THE HARVARD BUSINESS SCHOOL FROM 1966-1968: Pearl became a special part of our Section-E family from the start in 1966. She organized several “Spouse Club” events, and welcomed all the new spouses as they arrived. For example, she coordinated an outreach enhancement program to Cambridge public elementary school children and recruited others to participate – including Sylvia Hillier! Of course, we noted with glee when, in short order, the Kanes adopted a baby boy (Bradley), graduated in June 1968, and Pearl gave birth to triplets (Laura, Leslie, and Lisa) before the year was over! Pearl’s dedication to education academic achievement at the highest level led her to break new ground with an Ed.D. degree from Columbia (after graduating from New York’s City College and earning a master’s degree at Smith College). She fought for, and won, a pioneering tenured position at her alma mater - Columbia University’s Teacher’ s College. There, Pearl established and sustained widely-honored program for Columbia’s Klingenstein Center for Independent School Leadership. Pearl defined and enhanced the program as she built active participation from within every notable private secondary school in the country and dozens of international schools as well. Pearl led a program of case studies and management development exercises for professional private school executives and teachers - over 5,000 participants. Her achievements of 37 years at Klingenstein were recognized at a marvelous Tribute Celebration in the Museum of Natural History’s “Blue Whale Room” in April 2017 with nearly 500 attendees. In her candid style, her keynote speech focused on the danger of elitism at these private institutions. Also, in her gracious and personable style, the formal program featured individual thoughtful reflections from each of her six grandchildren. Pearl is remembered and cherished as the trail-blazing mother of four children growing up together in Manhattan. Pearl is honored as the ever-challenging leader of educational effectiveness and managerial growth in a field whose professionalism had long been ignored until she ignited the flame of responsible growth and proficiency. To their credit, the dedicated professionals in the field energetically embraced her leadership and celebrated her accomplishments embodied in her published record of several textbooks, countless articles, and a library of powerful participatory videos. Pearl is loved as the thoughtful and supportive family friend who finds the time to express tenderness and concern for others. For example, just this past Valentine’s Day, Richard and Pearl hosted a surprise deli-catered 24-hour lunch at Boston’s Beth Israel Hospital to express their gratitude for the care provided by the staff. Pearl is recognized for her unique ability to integrate her competitive drive and her high standards within her faultless charm and grace. Pearl will be sorely missed and her memory will be cherished as Richard’s continuous life-partner and dedicated mutual supporter.

There was no one like Pearl. An intellectual and energy force who exuded excitement, smarts, and passion for schools and learning. Creative, determined, and generous. Caring, thoughtful, insightful. Intuitive, quick, deep. An extraordinary teacher who influenced our independent school community beyond measure. We are so grateful. I am so grateful, Pearl. Thank you for your inspiration.

All of us who knew Pearl have an origin story. I remember vividly my first encounter with Pearl Rock Kane. I was a new head, full of unearned confidence and the poise of the uninitiated, attending a workshop in Honolulu she led for about 35 school leaders from the Hawai'i Association of Independent Schools. Pearl had finished speaking and sat at a table with a few other VIPs, and we faced her in a semicircle of chairs. The HAIS director signaled the start of a Q&A session. A few minutes in, I raised my hand and lobbed what I believed to be a provocative, clever question (on the topic of the liabilities posed by current parent trustees). I recall being quite pleased with myself, and expected an admiring reply from Pearl. Instead, in an earnest, patient, measured tone, Pearl proceeded to speak. Rather than answering my question, Pearl addressed the thinking behind the question -- my thinking -- laying bare key assumptions and mischaracterizations that undermined my reasoning and exposed my tendency to say something indelicate for effect without thinking it through first. As Pearl spoke in her level tone, I found myself involuntarily nodding in agreement, because as Pearl deconstructed my question -- even as I sat withering in front of my peers -- what she said made perfect sense. Pearl finished, and the conversation turned to other topics. I sat for a time looking down at my shoes, coming to terms with what had just happened. I was embarrassed, sure, but not humiliated; it gradually became clear that I had just received a powerful leadership lesson, and had in fact been offered a giant step forward in my own understanding of my role as headmaster. After a time gazing at my feet, I became conscious again of the discussion around me. I looked up to the faces at the head table, and Pearl was looking at me. She smiled. Then she winked. That wink from Pearl Rock Kane launched a 15-year relationship that would transform my life profoundly through the extraordinary opportunities and people I would come to discover in Pearl's orbit. Like countless others whom Pearl has touched, for me she became a mentor and a friend, a selfless confidante, a concerned counselor and patient advisor. A leadership role model. Always, a remarkable teacher. And whenever we spoke, Pearl was perpetually interested in me -- never herself. I will always be grateful to have known Pearl and learned from her, to remember her confidence in me and her expectations for deliberate, thoughtful, ethical leadership. Her customary greeting when we met ("How are you?") and her hilarious dry wit. Her smile. And that wink. I love you Pearl, always will -- my blessings to you, Richard and family, as you move forward. I wish you light, warmth, and hope in her memory.

When I think of meaningful mentors in my life, Pearl is on the short list. She was a creative force of nature who inspired, nurtured, probed, pushed, and modeled servant leadership. In striving to do it for others and do it well in service of education and educators, she motivated me to try to do the same. Pearl was that rare person who lived by the principle that rather than the world owing her a living, she owed the world a life. And what a life she gave to the world, education, and all of us who experienced her presence, her grace, and her love. I remain forever thankful for the opportunity Pearl and the Klingenstein Center gave me to grow as a person and teacher. I will try to honor her memory with the life I owe the world. I send my sympathy to her wonderful family.

As I took my seat at our annual Advisory Committee dinner, I hear a loud CRACK, and WHAM! I hit the hard floor, shattered pieces of the restaurant chair all around me. Colleagues and restaurant personnel hovered around asking if I were all right, and then there was Pearl helping me stand. “Come with me,” she said. I assured her I was really fine, just a bit embarrassed, but she put her arm around me and started walking with me. Were we going to see the manager? I wondered; but no, Pearl said we were just going to walk around the restaurant until she was persuaded that I was really all right. So on we walked, all around the tables; Pearl advising me to take Ibuprofen before going to sleep that night. Pearl assuring me the chair was old and going to break no matter the weight of the person who next happened to sit in it. Pearl insisting that the restaurant needed to check all its chairs. In fact, she asserted, I may have saved an old person’s life. What if an elderly person with a heart condition had sat in that chair instead of me? Her version of my mishap as heroic accident made me laugh. I had to wonder if the patrons watching us walking around wondered why an older, somewhat frail woman was supporting and encouraging a somewhat younger limping, laughing woman. But it was always just this way with Pearl and me. Yes, those of us who shared the remarkable experience of the Klingenstein 2010 Heads’ cohort had been amazed by the sheer amount of reading and writing and thinking required and by the quality of the work Pearl expected of us. But we were more than compensated for our lack of sleep by Pearl’s guidance, her wisdom, her humor, and her expansive, relentlessly ethical perspective. Later, as a field instructor for Klingenstein Master’s degree students, and as a member of Pearl’s Advisory Committee, I came to realize that she was always asking more of me, but that she also always gave more of herself. In ways that shaped my own leadership as a woman and that strengthened me as a person, Pearl helped me to stand, supported me, and walked with me. I am deeply grateful, and I shall never forget her. Carolyn Chandler