Asher Rubin Obituary

Asher Rubin A retired California Deputy Attorney General and a devoted husband and father, died peacefully in Marin County on September 30, 2010. Asher was born in Atlantic City, on November 9, 1936, to Sophie and Jacob Rubin. He later moved to the town of Liberty, in New York's Catskill Mountains, where he went to high school and honed his sense of humor while working for six summers as a busboy at the famed Grossinger's resort hotel. Asher graduated from Columbia University in 1958 and Harvard Law School in 1961. After graduation, he clerked for Justice Thomas White of the California Supreme Court. He joined the office of Attorney General Stanley Mosk in 1963, where he remained until 2001. While there, Asher represented various officials and agencies in appellate and trial litigation involving many of the important political and social issues confronting California. He appeared before the US Supreme Court in two cases, which settled significant disputes regarding special education and unemployment insurance. He appeared before the California Supreme Court in controversial cases that affected reproductive rights, unemployment insurance, industrial safety, and health care benefits. Asher was known for his sense of humor and could not restrain himself, even in court. When he asked a federal judge for extra time to file his brief when George Deukmejian was Attorney General, the judge was reluctant, commenting: "What do you people in the Attorney General's Office do all day?" Asher replied: "Well, we spend most of our time trying to spell Deukmejian." The judge granted him a 45 day extension. Asher was active beyond his professional life. He was a board member of Image for Success, a member of the Tiburon Theater Troupe, a past president of the Tiburon Peninsula Club, a feature writer for the Nob Hill Gazette, and past chairman of the Tiburon Art Festival. The center of Asher's life was his family. He is survived by his wife Diane and their two children, Jacob and Shaina, as well as his four brothers, Emanuel, Mordecai, Joseph and Abba. A celebration of his life will be held on Sunday at 1 pm at Jason's at 300 Drakes Landing Rd. in Greenbrae.

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Published by San Francisco Chronicle from Oct. 2 to Oct. 3, 2010.

Memories and Condolences
for Asher Rubin

13 Entries

David N Sandler

February 2, 2022

Asher mentored me as a rookie when I joined the San Francisco AGs office in 1972. He was exceptional in so many ways. I learned much later that he was a classmate of my cousin's husband Bernard Nussbaum at Harvard. He will be missed.

fiona clooney

October 29, 2010

Sadly missed Asher, a true gentleman who always made me smile. Sincere sympathy to his family.

October 23, 2010

We can't express how sorry we were to learn of Asher's death. He was an amazing man and knowing him made our lives significantly richer. We will miss him and send our condolences to all.
Sherry and Ed Spiegel

October 12, 2010

I am so sorry to learn of Asher's death. It seems as though it was yesterday that I was planning his trip with Shaina to Turkey one year and then to Italy and Ireland the next year.
Asher truly loved traveling with Shaina. Asher was so proud of Shaina and Jacob and loved them dearly.
Asher will always be remembered in Tiburon as a community leader especially with his contribution to the Tiburon Arts Festival.
It was a joy to know him and to share in his excitement about traveling with Shaina. He loved every memorable moment.
The sparkle in his eyes and his laugh will be remembered forever.
Joanne Norman

October 11, 2010

I am sorry to learn of Asher's death. I drove Asher to California after our second year in law school in 1960. Rather, I drove him crazy because I refused to pass every car in front of us. Every place we stopped to eat, he had to show the waitress how to carry the dishes on her tray. After we both settled here, we played tennis on weekends for a few years until I got tired of losing. It was a great joy to know him. My condolences to his wife and children.
Neil Horton

Barbara Zien Musser

October 5, 2010

It was a shock to hear of Asher's passing. He was a big part of my social group back in the single days. In these past years it has always been a kick to run into him in spots around Marin and share stories and laughs. He will always be remembered in a special place in my heart.

October 4, 2010

How fortunate we all are, to have had Asher in our lives.
Asher was a wonderful gift, and we will always "smile" when we think of him.

With our deep condolences,

Debbie and Vivian Hansen

October 4, 2010

I would like to share my condolences for the loss of your dear loved one. Please take a moment and read Romans 5:28,29 for encouragement during this rough time. - SEH

October 4, 2010

Dear Diane,

I am so sorry to hear of Asher's passing. I am glad he had you and your children in his life.

With sympathy,

Peggy Olsen

WILLI SCHNITZER

October 3, 2010

I MET ASHER IN PORTO PETRO SPAIN THE SUMMER OF 1973 .MY EX AND ASHER WERE THE AMERICAN TEAM PLAYING TENNIS AGAINST THE GERMAN TEAM. EVERY TIME I WOULD RUN INTO ASHER HE WOULD REMIND ME THE AMERICANS BEAT THE GERMANS.MEANING WE JEWISH BOYS BEAT THE GERMANS..HA HA . HE TOOK GREAT PLEASURE IN THAT SCENE.
HE BEAT MY EX IN SCRABBLE WITH THE WORD UREMIA . WHO HAD EVER HEARD OF THAT WORD UNLESS YOU WERE A DOCTOR..ASHER KNEW. HIS RHYMES THAT SUMMER WERE FABULOUS AND FUN. HE WROTE THEM FOR ALL OF HIS PORTO PETRO CLUB MED PAL'S THAT SUMMER . WE WERE FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD AND HAD TO STICK TOGETHER AS NONE OF US SPOKE FRENCH WELL ENOUGH TO HANG OUT WITH THE FRENCH.
ASHER YOU WERE AS WE SAY A REAL MENSCH AND YOU WILL BE ENORMOUSLY MISSED BY FAMILY AND FRIENDS. MY CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY.
WILHELMINA SCHNITZER

San Francisco Thankgiving 2009

Bruno Frydman

October 2, 2010

San Francisco August 2006

Bruno Frydman

October 2, 2010

Bruno Frydman

October 2, 2010

Asher was my dear friend for the past 35 years. We shared jokes and our love for good things in life. He always cared for me. In spite of the distance we always managed to come together at least once a year. We spent thanksgiving 2009 at the home of Fred and Laurel Suess in San Francisco. I made the trip especially to surprise Asher. It was the last time I saw him. We spoke on the phone many times since and communicated through email and Face Book. I want to present my condolences to Diane, Shaina and Jacob.
I shall never let go my memories of the marvelous times spent together at the four corners of the World.

Farewell my friend and see you soon!

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