Local 706 - The Artisan

36 • THE ARTISAN FALL 2020 In Memoriam On Saturday, June 27, Barbara Wilder Pearlman, loving wife and mother of two, passed away at the age of 51. Barbara was born Mary Barbara Ratajc in 1968 in Cleveland, Ohio, to Bozidar and Angela (Kos) Ratajc. Throughout her life, Barbara brought love, friendship and joy to countless friends and family. She was a whirlwind of energy and creativity, and was passionate about everything and everyone she cared about. She was a talented chef, artist, gardener, friend, and an overall inspiration to many. Barbara loved cooking, experimenting with fl avors, techniques and world cuisines. Her zest for new foods eventually turned into a career. Nothing made her happier than feeding friends and family, and spending time with those she loved. Barbara was also a talented artist in multiple media, as well as an avid gar- dener. There was never a time when she didn't have at least a few different projects of some kind going. Barbara was preceded in death by both of her parents, Bozidar (Bill) and Angela. She is survived by her husband David (who met her 25 years earlier, on July 22, 1996, and then married her exactly a year later); her children Jacob and Livia, her siblings Michael and Margie and their families, her uncle and aunt Tony and Mary Kos, her cousins Monica, Sonia and Tony, and many friends. Barbara grew up in a spe- cialty food shop her parents owned in Ohio; her father was an Austrian-trained butcher who crafted salami, ham, sausage and cheese. While most kids were sneaking candy, she was tiptoe- ing up to the attic where her dad kept a giant hindquarter of prosciutto and sliced little pieces off for herself. Barbara studied make-up while fi nishing high school, and in addition to becoming a cosmetologist, she studied special effects make-up in Toronto, with the goal of working in fi lm and television. Soon afterward, she packed up all her posses- sions and drove across the country to Los Angeles. Through her talent and newfound connections, she became successful in the industry, working on projects, including TV shows and miniseries. Her TV credits included Babylon 5, Dinner and a Movie, and The Shining. Her fi lm work included Swordfi sh, Phone Booth, Spider-Man and Boogie Nights. After many years in the busi- ness, Barbara made the decision to leave the industry to start a family and raise her two children. All the while she found herself experimenting with unique ingredients and diverse fl avor profi le, leading her to her next career passion, cooking. Barbara was always an outstanding home cook, and craved a new career. To fulfi ll that dream, she studied at Le Cordon Bleu Culinary School in Hollywood and graduated with hon- ors. She spent some time in the restaurant world, but her love of world cuisine would take her in a different direc- tion. She spent years at Whole Foods, where she built a strength in culinary development. She formulated many recipes across all venues, wrote seasonal guides for team members, and trained staff. A passion for creating new formulas drove her to seek other opportunities that would allow her to focus on development. Barbara worked for a string of companies, each time learning more about food science and the production process. She developed items that were distributed to grocery stores and became part of their ongoing offerings. She had many more projects on the horizon. Barbara had a bright, larger-than-life per- sonality. She was a passionate person with strong opinions and a caring heart who loved friends and family both old and new. She leaves a hole in the lives and hearts of those who were lucky enough to have her in their lives, even for a shorter time than anyone expected. An online virtual memorial service is planned for friends and family in the near future. Those interested in attending, as well as those who wish to share stories, pictures, and good food and drink in Barbara's honor, should email memorial@eclecti- cuisine.com. Apologies for the delay in the posting of this obituary. It was impossible to cover all that Barbara was and is in words, especially through tears. In lieu of fl ow- ers, please consider planting a tree, a plant or fl ower in her honor, as well as enjoying your favorite food and a cocktail. Barbara would love that. To plant memorial trees in her memory, please visit our Sympathy Store. EXTENDED FAMILY NEWS Barbara Wilder Pearlman (1968-2020) Journeyman Make-up Artist He served on the Board of Trustees from 1975-79, was an Executive Board member from 1981-91 and 1998-00, and was Vice President from 1993-94. He strongly pro- moted union strength and unity, serving as chairman of the Unionize Now Positive Action Committee in the early 1990s. Brother MacKenzie retired in 2002 and is survived by his wife of 35 years, Sonya MacKenzie.

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