Barbara I Wolf

Barbara l. Wolf, Ph.D.

Passed away July 19, 2020. She was born March 1, 1945 in Chicago, Illinois, the daughter of William Sladcik and Lucille Schaefer. She was an original in every way. Long before the feminist movement gained traction, she set her sights on greatness and would not be denied. She received a bachelor’s degree in speech pathology from the University of Illinois and was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa. She subsequently completed three master’s degrees in education, public service administration and education/behavior disorders. In 1977 she received her Ph.D. in Education/Evaluation Science, graduating Summa Cum Laude. She joined the faculty at Indiana University, Bloomington in 1977 as a research assistant at the Center for Innovation and Teaching the Handicapped, where her passion for teaching the gifted and challenged student began. She rose through the academic ranks, becoming Associate Dean of the Faculties, Bloomington Campus, a position she held for 5 years before becoming a full professor in the School of Education.  During her career she was prolific, publishing numerous research papers, book chapters, professional reports, text books, and educator instructor manuals. She was highly regarded by her students, receiving numerous teaching awards through IU and nationally. Barbara was also highly regarded for her work in museum assessment, consulting nationally for institutions including the Smithsonian Museum, the Statue of Liberty Commission, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, NY, the J.P. Getty Museum, Ca and the Children’s Television Workshop (Sesame Street), among others. Locally she consulted for the Eiteljorg Museum and the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis where she eventually assumed a leadership position after retiring from academia. She was a highly regarded lecturer regionally, nationally and internationally. Barbara was a Master Gardener and loved to play in the dirt. She was a voracious reader and was a strong patron of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. She loved spending time on Lake Michigan with her dogs and friends. Above all else, she adored her grandchildren Jaredyn, Gabriella and Madelynn Goulet, and worked tirelessly to be a positive influence in their lives. Barbara is survived by her husband, Robert Goulet, M.D., her stepson Philip Goulet, his wife Jennifer and her caregiver Rodney Allen. She is preceded in death by her father William Sladcik, mother Lucille and brothers William, Jr. and Robert. The family is currently planning a celebration of Barbara’s life to be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra or the Peachy Foundation.