Rabert, Bonnie Graham
Biographical Information
Bonnie Graham Rabert graduated from Purdue in 1964 and worked as a Food Consultant specializing in food styling for thirty years. After retiring, she became a watercolor artist. She has worked for many well-known companies as a food stylist such as McDonald's, Pillsbury, Kraft General Foods, Quaker Oats Company, and Sara Lee. She has taught food styling seminars and has talked to classes at Purdue about food styling. In 2017, she was inducted into the Department of Nutrition Science's Hall of Fame.
Bonnie Graham Rabert, born Bonnie Graham, attended Purdue University from January 1960 until January 1964, majoring in Foods in Business and Foods in Research. She resided at Warren Hall from fall 1960 until May 1962 where she also served as Hall Counselor. From fall 1962 until May 1963, she also worked as a counselor for the Men's Residence Halls, serving 56 freshman women who were living in the State Street Courts that were serving as overflow housing for women students.
Rabert was also involved in campus activities, such as choir and the Purdue Drill Team Auxiliary (PDTA). She was part of both the campus Presbyterian Church choir and University Choir, where she led a chorus at Hall X for Mother's Day. She joined the PDTA for the women's team in the fall of 1960 as an auxiliary to the National Championship Purdue Drill Team. In 1961, she became the training officer for the new members. That same year, she was elected executive officer and drill commander and served until May 1963. Under her lead, the team won first place at Ohio State University and Purdue (Scabbard and Blade), second place at Illinois, and second place in the national title in Washington DC in 1963.
In 1962, Stouffers Restaurant recruited Rabert from campus to work as a cook at a newly remodeled restaurant at Disneyland. She became Pantry Supervisor and after one week of training, was required to train 26 workers and hire new staff.
After graduation, Rabert worked for the Quaker Oats Company developing recipes, food styling for photography, copy writing, and developing new product concepts before moving on to Leo Burnett USA Advertising Agency where she did similar work but for eight national food accounts. In 1970, she formed her own freelance business specializing in food styling, recipe development, and new product concepts and "represented clients such as Better Homes and Gardens, Sara Lee, Cuisine Magazine, Wendy's, McDonald's, Pillsbury, Thomas' English Muffins, and the 'Noteworthy' Cookbook for the Ravinia Festival" (Bonnie Graham Rabert). In the 1980s, she moved to London, England and continued her freelance work, consulting for clients such as Taste Magazine, A La Carte Magazine, and Good Housekeeping All-American Cookbook. She returned to Chicago in 1988 and continued her food styling work for clients such as Kraft General Foods, American Girl, Sedelmaier Production's 'Where's the beef', and many more. She also taught food styling seminars and started food styling for film in addition to photography.
Bonnie Graham Rabert married twice, changing her last name from Graham to Keeler after the first marriage and then to Rabert after she married Daryl Rabert. In 2000, both her and her husband retired after which she started a new career as a watercolor artist.
Bonnie Rabert has participated and held leadership roles in many women's organizations. "She has directed a Charity Musical Review for her Women's Club; chaired a fundraiser for Les Dames d'Escoffier, Chicago Chapter; [and has served as] President of the Sea Island Ladies Golf Association and head of the Landscape Committee for their Homeowners Association" (Bonnie Graham Rabert).