Pearlman Family
Zalman and Eta Pearlman lived in Propoisk, Russia with their seven children: Isaac, Hershel, Chaim, Abe, Molly, Ben and Lou;and with Eta’s mother Bobbeh Sora Riva. Sora Riva, a midwife, married at 13 when she was still playing with dolls. Her husband died at a young age, as did Zalman. Sora Riva and her daughter Eta supported the family.
Hershel left for “America” and landed in Winnipeg in 1910. The rest of the family followed in 1911.
Isaac Pearlman became a physician by first becoming fluent in English (through his own efforts) and assisting several physicians in Winnipeg. He took a special course in Chicago and completed his study of medicine in Winnipeg. In later years he taught gastro-intestinal medicine at the University of Manitoba and served as head physician at St. Boniface Hospital.
Isaac had one son, Sam, with his first wife, and later married Clara Mogel, a pianist. Their son Leonard completed his medical studies, but immediately moved to Vienna, where he became an orchestral conductor. He now conducts in Tucson, Arizona.
Hershel, who worked as a carpenter, married Adella Perlman (who then became a Pearlman!) in 1913. They had six children: Miriam (Zucker), Esther (Perlman), Sidney (married to Frances Rosenbaum), David (Evelyn), Joseph (Naomi), and Sorch (Tucker)
Chaim looked after real estate properties through the Mutual Agencies with a cousin, Nathan Selchen. Chiam and his wife Clara had two children, Ruth (Mitchell) and David (Edie). They remained in Winnipeg.
Abe Pearlman worked for several years in Saskatchewan but then returned to Winnipeg. In 1916 he married Sophie Leve and in 1925 he and brother Ben purchased the Polar Aerated Water Works in Calgary. Sophie, who worked for many years on behalf of the Peretz School, died in 1956. In 1962 Abe married Mary Rudin.
Abe was one of the founders of the I.L. Peretz Institute, served as President of the school for many years and was also active in the Calgary Chapter of the Canadian Jewish Congress. Abe died in 1965. Abe and Sophie had three children: Lily (Sam Hamer), Ester (Bill Tax) and Sarah (Ben Torchinsky). There are eight grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Molly married Nathan Selchen and remained in Winnipeg. They had two children: Zalman (married to Rivka) and Leah (Krikun), and five grandchildren.
Ben Pearlman came to Calgary in 1924 and in 1929 married Rowena Perlman, a sister to Adella, Hershel’s wife. Ben was a founding member of the Peretz School. Rowena was the school’s first kindergarten teacher.
Ben and Rowena had two children: Marsha Hanen (currently President of the University of Winnipeg), and Ron (a professor of biochemistry at York University). Ben Pearlman died in 1985, Rowen in 1988.
Lou Pearlman came to Calgary in 1925 to work for Abe and Ben as the chemist in the soft drink plant. He had studied medicine for five years but then switched to biochemistry. As the chemist at Polar Aerated Water Works, he won awards for his Orange Crush and Seven-up.
In 1930 Lou married Edythe Rosen. They were founding members of the Calgary I.L. Peretz School. As well, Lou was its Cultural Chairman and brought to Calgary Yiddish actors, singers, lectures, writers and musicians. Edythe taught Yiddish and Hebrew folk songs to the students, and for 42 years played piano for their rehearsals and concerts.
Lou was also involved in B’nai B’rith and the Calgary chapter of Canadian Jewish Congress. Lou Pearlman died in 1971.
Edythe was a member of National Council of Jewish Women and Hadassah. She conducted a specialty choir for NCJW, and also conducted the Beth Israel Choir for the High Holy Days. She held several positions in Mooter Farein at the Peretz School. She worked with Jewish National Fund and was an advisor to B’nai B’rith girls.
Lou and Edythe had five children: Naomi (Barney Shatz) Eta (Morley Kerr), Donna (Emanuel Cohen), Clarice (Dan Ondrack) and Howard, and nine grandchildren, Naomi passed away in 1994.
