Bernice (Bunny) Pearlman, co-founder of Therapeutic Living Center for the Blind, longtime companion of Syd Kronenthal and resident of Valley Village, died on July 20.
She was 82 years old.
Married for many years to Seymour Pearlman, a prominent Los Angeles attorney, they had a son, Larry. He was blind and developmentally Disabled, and he required full time care.
Bernice and Seymour were unwilling to commit their son to a state hospital. Together in 1975, they founded the Therapeutic Living Center for the Blind, for persons with special needs. The location was a renovated hospital in Pasadena.
Later, TLC soon moved to Reseda in the west Valley, a two-acre complex housing 180 children and adults, featuring specially designed classrooms, an aquatic center and a garden.
The Therapeutic Living Center for the Blind is one of the few agencies in the country providing residential and day programs for people with multi-disabilities and blindness.
Seymour Pearlman died in 1989.
In addition to her son, Mrs. Pearlman is survived by Mr. Kronenthal, longtime director of Human Services for the city of Culver City. Later, he served on the board of TLC.
A number of years ago, Mr. Kronenthal organized “Uncle Syd's Labor Day Barbeque” for blind and handicapped people in the Los Angeles area.
He said recently that “Bunny Pearlman was instrumental in making ‘Uncle Syd's Barbeque’ the success that it was.”
A native of Buffalo, Mrs. Pearlman moved west wth her family as a schoolgirl, graduating from Verdugo Hills High School, Tujunga.
As a young woman, she worked in the fashion industry. She was active right up to her death, visiting her son at TLC on a daily basis.
Mrs. Pearlman served on numerous boards and committees and helping raise funds for the center.
She also helped found the Los Angeles Mid-Valley Lions Club, which meets at TLC.
Mrs. Pearlman was laid to rest at Eden Memorial in Mission Hills.
The Therapeutic Living Center for the Blind is at 7915 Lindley Ave., Reseda.
