Ian Alexander Pearl's Obituary
Ian Alexander Pearl
January 20, 1972 - July 4, 2020
Ian Alexander Pearl, 48, a longtime resident of Southwest Ranches, passed away on July 4, 2020, following a long illness. Ian is survived by his loving parents, Susan and Warren Pearl; adored grandmother Hope Pearl; devoted brother Matthew (Tobey) Pearl; beloved niece and nephews, Lulu, Cooper, and Graham Pearl; many dear aunts, uncles and cousins; an extraordinary team of dedicated caregivers; and countless friends around the world.
Ian was born in New York and soon diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy, a progressive neuromuscular disease. By the age of 8, Ian was confined to a motorized scooter and experiencing respiratory complications. In a desperate effort to save Ian’s life, the family relocated to Southwest Ranches in 1980, where Ian became the first mainstreamed student in Broward.
Ian’s health stabilized in the warm climate, and he enjoyed a remarkable childhood. He was safety patrol captain and MDA Goodwill Ambassador. Televised appearances on public service announcements and MDA telethons made Ian a local celebrity, a role he relished for the rest of his life.
High school was equally memorable. Ian proudly served as class president at NSU University School, and was honored by the Miami Herald Silver Knight Committee for his community service.
Ian entered University of Miami in 1990 with plans for a public service career, a plan cut short when he suffered respiratory failure and required a ventilator. Although increasingly homebound, Ian never gave up his plan of service. As a result of Ian's patient advocacy, the New York legislature passed Ian's Law in 2010, a historic insurance reform law that protects vulnerable individuals from the loss of life-sustaining benefits.
In recent years, Ian endured more frequent medical challenges. After surviving seemingly insurmountable crises for most of his life, Ian passed away from complications of pneumonia on July 4th, Independence Day. Everyone familiar with Ian’s passion for American history knows how honored he would be to share that date with an event of such great personal significance.
Throughout his lifelong struggle to survive, Ian considered himself uniquely fortunate. He cherished every moment of life in the home he designed with his parents, complete with his personal “Oval Office” and surrounded by nature and wildlife. He enjoyed collecting historical antiques, studying American history, debating politics, analyzing movies, and staying connected with friends. His days and nights were shared with loving family, devoted caregivers, and beloved animal companions.
Since childhood, Ian’s foremost goal was to encourage others to treasure life and help create a more compassionate world. In honor of lan's inspirational efforts to make the world a better place for all living things, the family suggests donations to K9s for Warriors (k9sforwarriors.org), the Miami-Dade (humanesocietymiami.org) or Broward (humanebroward.org) Humane Societies, South Florida Wildlife Center (southfloridawildlifecenter.org), or any animal shelter or rescue organization closest to your heart.
Arrangements by Levitt Weinstein/Beth David Hollywood (954)963-2400.
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