Barbara Jean Gilbert
On October 11th, 2022, Barbara Jean Gilbert, beloved friend, mother, sister, and grandmother passed away at the age of 71 in Rancho Santa Margarita, California.
Barbara was born on September 18th, 1951 in Chicago, Illinois. She was the oldest of 8 children and attended Pacelli High School in Columbus, Georgia, as well as Bremerhaven American High School in Bremerhaven, Germany. At the age of 25 she moved to Los Angeles with her two-and-a-half-year-old daughter, where she attended Southwestern Law School. After graduation, she became a successful trial lawyer. Between 2013 and 2019, she served as a Judicial Referee for the Orange County Superior Court granting restraining orders to keep victims safe from domestic abuse.
Deeply passionate about education, Barbara always encouraged those around her to seek out opportunities to learn more. Barbara even returned to school in her 60s to pursue a degree in film production. In her later years, Barbara enjoyed politics, playing Pickleball, watching films, and visiting with her grandchildren. She will be remembered for her tenacity in a profession where women were not often taken seriously, her success as a lawyer despite those obstacles, and her willingness to help others.
She is survived by her daughter, Kristin Saito; her three grandchildren, Tyler Saito, Zachary Saito, and Brandon Saito; and, her siblings, Jessica Fisher, Michael Gilbert, James Gilbert, Angela Gilbert, and Patricia Charette.