Sheldon Rubin

1929 - 2012

BORN

1929

DIED

2012

Sheldon Rubin Obituary

(News article) A Toledo lawyer for nearly 60 years who represented clients through nearly every circumstance, Sheldon Rubin died Wednesday in a Lakewood Ranch, Fla., hospice center. He was 83.

He took a spill while playing tennis last December, his daughter, Dana Rubin-Mollenkamp, said. Kidney failure and other health problems followed.

"My dad was the ultimate optimist," his daughter said. "Even when he was hooked up to dialysis and having his seizures, his words were, 'I gotta get up because I have to play tennis' or 'I gotta get up and get dressed because I have a big trial.' ''

"He never was sad about it," she said. "He was dreaming to walk and drive - and to play tennis was his biggest thing."

For more than a decade, he and his wife, Joanne, divided each year between Delray Beach, Fla., and their West Toledo home.

Mr. Rubin had a general law practice at 2127 Monroe St., where his son Daryl, a lawyer, now has his offices.

"My father was a pleasure to work with," said his son, who joined the practice in the 1980s. "He was incisive, and he always focused on the primary issue and didn't get distracted by inconsequential material. He was a gentleman and well-respected in the bar as a man of his word. He was committed to the best interests of his clients in every respect.

"He was able to communicate effectively to people of all levels of intelligence, making complicated matters simple for them to understand."

Mr. Rubin even had a title for the book he planned to write: The Practical Approach to the Practice of Law.

"When he represented somebody, typically they came back for every legal matter they had and sent their family, too," his son said.

Mr. Rubin was highly thought of in the legal community, said Marvin Jacobs, lawyer and longtime friend.

"He was very conscientious and very kind to people," Mr. Jacobs said. "[He] was well-prepared for all his cases."

George Glasser, a retired judge of the Ohio 6th District Court of Appeals, went to high school and law school with Mr. Rubin.

"He was very bright and thoughtful and sensitive to his clients," Judge Glasser said.

Mr. Rubin handled real estate matters; divorces and dissolutions; wills and estates; traffic and, occasionally, criminal cases. He went to the office six days a week and took clients' calls at home, whatever the hour.

"If he needed to get them out of jail in the middle of the night, he would go," his daughter said.

He typed his own pleadings on a manual Underwood typewriter. In later years he kept a companion Underwood for parts. His papers were organized and indexed to the letter, without the aid of a computer, and he finished The Blade's crossword daily besides.

"He could have been a law school professor. He could have gone into politics," his son said. "He just enjoyed practicing.

"For me the inspiration was having him close by and being able to mentor with him and see how he handled people and how he dealt with complicated situations and took strife into account and was able to ride above it. He was able to inspire his clients, too. My father prevailed on them to do the right thing."

He was born Nov. 7, 1929, in Milwaukee to Ida and Charles Rubin. He was young when the family moved to Toledo; his father had a North Toledo grocery. He attended Fulton School and Scott High School, but graduated from Central High School in Detroit.

He received bachelor's and law degrees from the University of Toledo. Mr. Rubin wanted to make the world a better place and to help those who were less fortunate, his daughter said. His family was far from well off.

His son said: "It was a real burden for the family to sacrifice and send their son to college."

Mr. Rubin and his wife played duplicate bridge and held tournaments in their home. He coached his children's ball teams and taught them to drive.

He and his wife traveled the world and made theater-going excursions to England and Stratford, Ontario - and were season ticket holders of the Toledo Repertoire Theatre and the Village Players. He was a University of Michigan football fan.

He'd been a member of Twin Oaks and Glengarry Country Clubs and the Toledo Racquet Club. As young couples, Mr. Rubin and his wife and Mr. Jacobs and his wife visited Tony Packo's Cafe on weekends, when strolling musicians from Detroit played for diners, or Centennial Terrace for dancing to big bands.

"He liked to live life to the fullest," Mr. Jacobs said.

Mr. Rubin was a member of Congregation B'nai Israel.

Surviving are his wife, Joanne, whom he married Dec. 23, 1951; sons, Brent, Daryl, and Kevin Rubin; daughter, Dana Rubin-Mollenkamp; sister, Marlene Russell; 13 grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.

Services will be at 1 p.m. today in the Robert H. Wick/Wisniewski Funeral Home. After graveside services, the family will receive guests in the Sylvania home of his son-in-law, Patrick, and daughter, Dana Rubin-Mollenkamp.

Contact Blade staff writer Mark Zaborney at: [email protected] or 419-724-6182.

Published by The Blade on Nov. 30, 2012.

Memories and Condolences
for Sheldon Rubin

Not sure what to say?





36 Entries

My sincere condolences go's out too the Rubin family Sheldon was a real profesional, he will be missed, truly, aka. Glenn Double jr. aka. Keith A. Mackenzie, aka. Glenn Douglas jr.

Keith Mackenzie

August 8, 2015

Dear Joann and family, Thinking of you at this sad and difficult time. Also thinking of and remembering Shelly as a special person with his warmth, great sense of humor and kindness. Take care of each other. Viv and Ernie

Vivian and Ernie Loeb

December 8, 2012

Rubin Family: Our sincerest condolences. I loved playing tennis with him over many years. What a nice friend and person. Ira & Janet Weiden

Ira Weiden

December 5, 2012

Joanne and family,
I was so sorry to hear of Shelly's passing. I always remember him being a gregarious soul and a true mensch.
Warmly,

Cindy Hersh

December 3, 2012

Joanne and family, My thoughts and prayers are with you. Shelly was an amazing man ! An inspiration to us all ! Jill Kilby

December 3, 2012

Joanne and family, Shelly was an amazing
man. We will all miss him.
Arlene Bachman

December 2, 2012

My deepest condolences to the Rubin family. As a cousin to the Harris Family, I last saw Sheldon & Joanne at Melia Rosen's Bat Mitzvah in Minnepolis and thought what a great loving couple they are. May your fond memories sustain you during the mourning period. Shalom.

Sandy Saviet

December 1, 2012

Joanne and family,
My most sincere sympathy is extended to all of you. Your wonderful memories of
Shelly will never be forgotten.

Annette Fine

December 1, 2012

Dear Rubin Family
So sorry for your loss.Sheldon was a real gentleman.
Judy and Seymour Chabler
Laguna Woods , California

Seymour Chabler

December 1, 2012

To My Cousins,

It was to Sheldon that I am here. Sheldon was my Dad's frat brother and he introduced my parents while my mom was visiting and my dad needed a spring formal date. The rest is history. I will miss Sheldon terribly, as I know you all will. My sympathy and condolence for all of our loss.

Cousin Jay

Jay Harris

December 1, 2012

Joanne,

So sorry for your loss. I remember all of the times we had been together and know the love you and Sheldon had for each other.

Stewart Aron

December 1, 2012

To the Rubin family,
Please accept my condolences. Mr. Rubin was always a kind and caring person to all of us.
He will be missed.
Respetcfully,
Michael Zerner

Michael Zerner

December 1, 2012

Our deepest sympathies for your loss. He was a sincere and wonderful man that we had the honor to know.
Mark and Al Lavsky & Mollie and David Shulan

December 1, 2012

My sympathies to JoAnne and the children. Shelly was a good friend, fellow tennis and bridge player as well as a valued client. He has always been a good memory of my many years in Toledo.

Bruce Feldman

December 1, 2012

I loved Shelly,...both as an attorney and as a human being; he was a true mensch.

Rich Neller

November 30, 2012

Our sympathy to the family. Mr.Rubin was very helpful to us years ago. My husband injured his back; having four back surgeries and was out of work for almost two years. We were a young couple with two small children. He helped my husband get Workmans comp and we never forgot it. That was in 1962 to 1964. We have always been grateful. May God comfort you in your loss. Chuck and Sylvia Witte Toledo.

Chuck & Sylvia Witte

November 30, 2012

Our best wishes to the Rubin families and may your memories of your father always bring smiles to yor face. Gary & Nancy Beren.

November 30, 2012

Mr. Rubin was an honest and respected professional as well as a loving husband and father. He will always be remembered and revered.

Thomas Rosenberger

November 30, 2012

Sheldon became a baseball picture-collecting nut from learning that I was one. We would trade pictures, too. I left Toledo after Scott High. but thought about Sheldon a lot. Very sorry he "left."

Richard Bracker

November 30, 2012

Our sincere sympathy on the loss of Sheldon. He was a sincere and wonderful friend. Barbara and Bernie Judis

Bernard Judis

November 30, 2012

Nancy and I were so sorry to here about the loss of your father. Please accept are sincere condolences. Sheldon had a wonderful sense of humor and was fun to be around.

Steve Cline

November 30, 2012

Daryl: My sincere condolences to you and your family. Your father was a prince of a man. A real gentleman with wonderful sense of humor.

Brian Goodell

November 30, 2012

Joanne and family...many wonderful memories and times with Sheldon. May your memories bring comfort to all that mourn

Bernie Solomon

November 30, 2012

Rubin family we would like to express our condolence of your father's passing we will misse him too.
Neemam family in Sarasota & Israel

Zvi Neeman

November 30, 2012

Rubin's Family
We are expressing our condolence of your father's passing we will misse him too
Neeman family
Sarasota/Israel

November 30, 2012

Brent, My condolences to you and the family. I have nothing but fond memories of your father.
Barry Igdaloff

November 30, 2012

I was sorry to hear of the passing of your dad. He will be missed by all. My prayers and thoughts are with your family....

Marc Fisher

November 30, 2012

We were sorry to hear this sad news - bad news, traveling fast to Fort Myers.

Joe and Marcia Goldberg

November 30, 2012

He was a wonderful man and will be sorely missed. My deepest condolences to all of the family.

Victoria Case

November 30, 2012

Our deepest sympathy to the entire family. As friends of long standing and former neighbors,we knew the family well
JoAnn and Fred Okun

November 30, 2012

Sincere condolences to your family on your father's passing.

Karin Jacobson

November 30, 2012

To the Rubin Family:

I am so sorry to hear about the loss of your father this holiday season. He was a wonderful friend to me that dates back to high school where my friendship with your family began.

Stephan Risher

November 30, 2012

Brent, I'm so sorry to learn about your dad. Although I only met him a couple of times, he impressed me as being a special person.

Jim Haberman

November 30, 2012

To the family, so sorry for your loss! Mr. Sheldon Rubin was one "great" man. He was the "best" lawyer anyone could ever have, so compasionate and honest.. I will "always" remember him . May his legacy live on in each and everyone of you. God Bless!

Sandra Kudzia/Stewart

November 30, 2012

My condolences to the family. David Martin.

David Martin

November 30, 2012

We are sorry to hear of your family's loss. Sheldon did so much for Toledo and our Jewish community. He will be missed. May you go from strength to strength. Bob and Stevie Lubell

Bob Lubell

November 30, 2012

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