Marshall Benjamin Pearlman

March 3, 1930 – February 16, 2026

Marshall Benjamin Pearlman, a man whose life was a masterclass in curiosity, creativity, and the "elegant engineering" of a life well-lived, passed away peacefully at his home in Rancho Santa Margarita on February 16, 2026. He was 95 years old.

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Early Life and Education

Born on March 3, 1930, in Los Angeles, Marshall was the youngest of three sons born to Lena and Abel Pearlman in Chicago, whose Jewish parents emigrated from eastern Europe. He grew up in the Carthay Circle area, where he was known as a standout student with an insatiable inquisitive nature.

After graduating from Los Angeles High School in 1948, Marshall attended Stanford University. A true intellectual, earned his degree in Chemistry, graduating Summa Cum Laude. His studies left him with a lifelong fluency in German and a deep, abiding love for mathematics—traits that would define his professional and personal pursuits for decades to come.

A Career of Innovation

Marshall’s professional life was a vibrant tapestry of science and engineering. He began his career at Dow Chemical, where he contributed to the development of Saran Wrap. However, his "golden era" was the decade he spent at Mattel Toy Co. Working closely with Mattel’s founders, Marshall was a core developer during the company’s "heyday” in the 1960’s. His fingerprints were on the icons of American childhood: the Barbie Doll, Hot Wheels, Creepy Crawlers, the Vacuform, and the “Vroom” bicycles.

The "Absent-Minded Professor" with a Heart of Gold

While characterized by his brother Bill as the "absent-minded professor", everyone saw him as a warm, witty, and deeply engaging soul.

His passions were as varied as his talents:

• Music: A gifted multi-instrumentalist, he played the guitar, banjo, mandolin, violin, and piano.

• Games: A "Life Master" in spirit, he was a mainstay at the South Orange County Bridge Center, where he taught Bridge, and edited the newsletter.

• The Outdoors: An Eagle Scout in his youth, he spent years hiking the Sierras.

Family and Legacy

At the center of Marshall’s world was his family and he shared 50 wonderful years of marriage with his wife, Kathleen.

He is survived by his devoted wife, Kathleen Pearlman; his children, Andrew, Curt (Lynne), Allyson, and Daniel; his grandchildren, Nicole (Kurt), Brittany, Michael, Shayna, and Lauren; and his great-granddaughter, Olivia. He also leaves behind his sister-in-law Judith Pearlman and niece Laurie Pearlman. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers William and Buddy, and his first wife, Betty Vincent.

Services

A private graveside service will be held at 11:00 AM on February 20, 2026, at El Toro Memorial Park.

Following the service, family and friends are invited to a reception at the Pearlman home: 41 Calle Del Norte, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Doctors Without Borders, a cause close to Marshall’s heart.

"Study the concepts of something you wish to build. Lay it out on paper first. If it doesn’t work on paper, it’s not going to work when you build it." — Marshall’s lifelong philosophy.

We will forever miss his "musicale" jam sessions, his clever gadgets, and his ability to explain anything with a dizzying level of precision. He was, quite simply, the most aptly-named man we knew: a "Marshall" of logic, laughter, and love.