Sara I. Reuben

Sara I. Rifkin Reuben 95, Indianapolis, died January 7, 2010, at her home. Born September 2, 1914, in Bobruisk, Belarus, she came to the U.S. with her parents at age 9. After several years in Havana, Cuba, waiting for visas, they entered via Florida and settled in Omaha, NE, where she attended Technical High School. As a young woman Sara was a secretary for an insurance company. Depression-era policy against employing married women ended that job in 1939, when Sara married Albert G. Reuben, whom she had met at the Omaha Jewish Community Center: they were to be married more than 60 years, until Albert's death in 2002. Sara and Albert moved to Canton and then Akron, OH, before coming to Indianapolis in 1948, where Albert launched what was to be his successful business career. Husband and children were always her central concern, but Sara found satisfaction in community volunteer and philanthropic efforts. She enjoyed music, movies, museum visits, travel, friends, and, in later years, watching Indianapolis professional sports teams, but was truly engaged when helping others: as a Red Cross Grey Lady, e.g., with the National Council of Jewish Women aiding new immigrants, or inviting soldiers training for Korean service at Camp Atterbury to holiday meals. She participated with the Jewish Education Association Auxillary and Hooverwood Guild, and was a member of Jewish Women International, the Women's Committee of the Indianapolis Symphony and Brandeis Women's Committee. An active participant in the local Hadassah chapter, Sara was twice its president, and also served as president of Congregation Beth-El Zedeck Sisterhood. With Albert, she was a Golden Giver to the Jewish Federation of Greater Indianapolis. As long as she was able, she delighted in personally awarding scholarships that were established in her and Albert's name to graduates of the Bureau of Jewish Education, JEA's successor, and in meeting Jewish Studies students at Indiana University who won similar awards. The IU scholarships were for graduate students working on Holocaust-related topics: Sara chaired the committee that developed the Albert and Sara Reuben Holocaust Memorial Garden on the Jewish Federation campus, which she saw as another form of teaching and learning. She also took pleasure in dedicating the Albert and Sara Reuben Senior and Community Resource Center nearby. She is survived by her children: Elaine Reuben, Washington, DC, David Reuben, Rockville, MD, and Lawrence (Candice) Reuben; granddaughter, Emily; and cousin, Nicole Fossati, Paris, France. The family appreciates those who gave her loving professional care in her last years, including Darling Lenoir, Pat Hehn, Debbie Farmer. Funeral services will be Sunday, January 10 at 2:00 pm in the Kaufman-Schuchman Chapel of Congregation Beth-El Zedeck, with burial at Beth-El Zedeck North Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Immigrant Welcome Center http: www.immigrantwelcomecenter.org, The Albert and Sara Reuben Senior and Community Resource Center, The Julian Center or Hadassah. Arrangements by Aaron-Ruben-Nelson Mortuary.