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Stuyvesant High School New York University

JOSEPH RUBINSTEIN Obituary

RUBINSTEIN--Joseph Harris. Joseph Harris Rubinstein (1936-2024) passed away at the age of 87 on June 8, 2024. Joe grew up on the Lower East Side of Manhattan; his parents Dr. Morris and Anne Rubinstein were immigrants from Eastern Europe. He attended Rabbi Jacob Joseph Yeshiva and Stuyvesant High School. Joe served in the Army before earning B.A., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees in biology from New York University. During this time, Joe also did basic research in biochemistry and physiology at the Boyce Thompson Institute for Plant Research. After graduating, Joe helped develop the Conceptually Oriented Program in Elementary Science (COPES) at New York University. In 1972, Joe joined Open Court Publishing Company in LaSalle-Peru, Illinois where he co-authored the Real Math textbook program. He then joined the faculty of Coker College in Hartsville, South Carolina where he chaired the Education department for most of his 27-year tenure. His passion for teaching and for his students was never-ending. He often said if he taught one student one useful thing on any given day, that was a good day. Joe was well-read on many topics from Judaic history to literature to politics; he always loved a good discussion. He is survived by his wife, Heike Buchler Rubinstein, son Mark Rubinstein (Anastasia), daughter Sara Rubinstein-Case (Thomas), grandchildren Oliver, Sylvia and Tighe, sister Judy Prigal and her family. He is endlessly missed.

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Published by New York Times on Aug. 11, 2024.

Memories and Condolences
for JOSEPH RUBINSTEIN

1 Entry

Sheila J Siderman

August 18, 2024

When Joe was at Open Court, I worked for Scholastic. We met through a publishing committee. Some time in the mid 70's we attended that same convention in California. I had flown in from NYC. In the middle of the night, I awoke with a terrible pain in one eye. I deduced that because I had taken a long flight, my eyes dried and my contact scratched my cornea. I dress and wandered down to the lobby, holding that eye. Joe saw me, asked what was wrong, and immediately took charg.e He found an all-night medical clinic and took me there. When the doctor on call started asking lots of questions about my insurance, Joe got angry. He chastised the doctor who said he couldn't do anything with guaranteed payment. Joe angrily reminded the doctor that I was in great pain and that his first duty was to care for the patient. Joe then made a nukber of threats about medical boards, etc. Picture it. Joe was not a large man. The doctor was. Joe was so convincing that the dortor immediately took me into the treatment room . It was only after all the medical stuff was completed that he let me give the doctor my insurance information.

Because of overlapping profressional responsibilities, Joe and I crossed paths many times. But that was the time I remember best.

Sheila Siderman, Princeton NJ

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