“This is what Burdorfs Do”

The Lasting Legacy of Longtime California ICRF Supporters Jacqueline and Arthur Burdorf

Jacqueline and Arthur were involved with ICRF’s Los Angeles chapter for many years where they attended events and participated in various initiatives. Israel was particularly important to them. The family took a trip there many years ago. Both Jacqueline’s and Arthur’s mothers suffered from cancer, and they found their involvement with ICRF meaningful and rewarding. Arthur and Jacqueline made a great team with Arthur as the “mover” and Jacqueline as the face of their charitable endeavors.

Arthur was born in Brooklyn and Jacqueline was born in Los Angeles. The pair met at a party in Los Angeles as they both attended different high schools, Jacqueline was at Fairfax High School and Arthur was at LA High. They married in 1962 and had four children: two sons and two daughters. Arthur worked in Real Estate in California, primarily in the Los Angeles area with properties in several other states. The Burdorfs were married for 55 years until Arthur passed away in 2017 at 81 years old.

Beyond ICRF, the couple’s generosity spanned many causes. They were involved with their local Jewish community including their synagogue and Federation, other Israel-related charities, and Jacqueline’s passion for the arts fueled their generosity in that arena as well. At the end of the day, it was never about the hoopla — it was always about getting things done. Jacqueline passed away in June of 2023 at 85 years old.

The couple’s generosity made and will continue to make an incredible difference for many. Their greatest accomplishment is what has been instilled in the next generation of Burdorfs. The grandchildren understand that they’re continuing the legacy. They often say, “this is what Burdorfs do.” They have learned from the work that was done and are carrying it forward. This is their way of meaningfully connecting with their grandparents, even though they are no longer physically here.

The grandchildren all have promising trajectories in science including: Molecular Biology, Astrophysics, and Medicine. Arthur and Jacqueline would be thrilled to see what they’re all doing now.

Due to her applicable background, the eldest granddaughter was able to assist in reviewing the grants that will now bear her grandparents’ names. “It’s part of the legacy to have the generations participate. That’s the legacy of the Burdorf name. It’s not about what you accumulate, but what you do with it. Giving back, paying it forward—this is what Burdorfs do.”

The Jacqueline and Arthur Burdorf Memorial Grants

The Burdorf bequest is funding the entirety of the following cancer research projects, all of which have been named in Jacqueline and Arthur’s memory.

Debbie Anaby, PhD, Chaim Sheba Medical Center
The Jacqueline and Arthur Burdorf Memorial Research Career Development Award: Transforming Breast Cancer Diagnosis: A Novel Approach for Diagnostic Precision (breast cancer imaging by application of AI)

Talia Golan, MD, Chaim Sheba Medical Center
The Jacqueline and Arthur Burdorf Memorial Professorship Grant: Exploring Resistance Mechanisms and Optimizing Targeted Therapies for BRCA1/2 Mutant PDAC (BRCA mutant pancreatic cancer)

Ofer Shoshani, PhD, Weizmann Institute of Science
The Jacqueline and Arthur Burdorf Memorial Research Career Development Award: The Role of Gene Amplification in Cancer Proteotoxic Stress (genomic instability)

Assaf Zinger, PhD at Technion, Israel Institute of Technology
The Jacqueline and Arthur Burdorf Memorial Project Grant: Resected Tumor Biomimetic Nanoparticles for Personalized and Prophylactic Immunotherapy (triple negative breast cancer)