Hilda Barash (nee Nathenson), in spite of her early hearing loss, made her way in a hearing world with ease. She was the first deaf person in the state of Wisconsin to serve on jury duty, relying on a sign language interpreter to communicate the facts in the case.
She died Sept. 15 at the age 88 in Madison.
She was born in Russia, where she became deaf after a childhood illness. In 1923, at age seven, she immigrated to the United States with her mother and two sisters, joining her father, who had come seven years earlier. She attended Central High School through the tenth grade, when she met Abe Barash, a deaf immigrant from Russia well known in Madison as the deaf shoe repairman. They married in 1935. He died in 1987.
She was an excellent lip reader and the primary link to the hearing world for her husband, who used sign language as his source of communication, both before their two children were born and after they left home.
“She was known by all to be a sunny, shining presence filled with love for all people and things,” according to her family. “She was a consummate cook and baker and prepared hundreds of large meals for family and friends over the years. She also was a fine seamstress and in her early years made all of her own clothes, as well as clothing for her family and friends.”
She was a founding member of Beth Israel Center, and a life member of the Wisconsin Association of the Deaf, Madison Association of the Deaf, Happy 55 Club, and the Jewish Deaf Congress.
She is survived by daughter Eve Dicker (Bob) Eiseman of Mequon; son Dr. Harvey (Trudy) Barash; sister Rebecca Nathenson; sister-in-law Dr. Lucille (Jack) Rosenberg; six grandchildren; and eight grandchildren.
Rabbi Kenneth Katz officiated at the funeral on Sept. 17.
The family would appreciate memorials the Beth Israel Center Abraham Barash Fund for Handicapped Services, 1406 Mound St., Madison, WI 53711; or the Abraham Barash Memorial Scholarship Fund, c/o The Wisconsin Association of the Deaf, 2332 E. Kensington Blvd., Shorewood, WI 53211; or Hospice, 5395 E. Cheryl Pkwy., Madison, WI 53711.
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