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Longtime Owner of Koslow Cycle Passes Away

Published June 19, 2008

LOMBARD, IL (BRAIN)—Sylvia Koslow, who owned and operated Koslow Cycle in Illinois with her husband Andrew for three decades, passed away on June 14.

She was 83.

The Koslows opened the shop in 1968, continuing on a family tradition. Andrew Koslow’s parents opened the first Koslow Cycle in 1912 in Chicago.

Sylvia Koslow helped start the first Chicago Area Bicycle Dealers Association in the 1970s. She greatly enjoyed the bike business, said Koslow’s daughter, Barb.

“She was an excellent businesswoman. It’s what her and my father did; they had no interest in doing something else,” Barb said.

Sylvia Koslow raised her five children from an early age to follow and her footsteps.

“I remember being a little girl—7 or 8 years old—sitting on her lap and her explaining to me things like overhead, fixed costs in business. By the time I was 8 or 9, I could write checks,” Barb said.

Sylvia retired 10 years ago and moved to Florida, where made a business setting up, then selling bike rental shops.

The family continues to own and operate Koslow Cycle.

A memorial for Sylvia will be held on Sunday from 2 to 6 p.m. at the Oaks Funeral Home, 1201 East Irving Park Road, Itasca, Illinois.

In leiu of flowers, please make a donation to the Alzheimers Association, 225 N. Michigan Ave, Floor 17, Chicago, IL 60601-7633.

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