Harold Leonard Rubenstein
April 16, 1923 - August 6, 2006
Obituary
HAROLD LEONARD RUBENSTEIN – Harold passed away on August 6, 2006, in Federal Way, Washington. He was born on April 16, 1923 in Brooklyn, New York, to Benjamin Harrison and Anna Hotz Rubenstein, and was raised with two sisters, Elsie and Arleen. He attended Brooklyn Boy’s High School during which time he developed a lifelong love of stamp collecting. Harold’s studies at the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania were interrupted in 1943 when he joined the Army Air Corps. He flew with the 15th Air Force, 49th Wing, 461st Bomb Group, 765th Squadron, based out of Torretta Field, Italy, where he served as an armorer and ball turret gunner on a B24J Liberator.
Following the war, Harold graduated from Wharton and settled in Chicago where he met his wife of fifty years, Helen Marie Cotta. His career included executive positions in the trucking and banking industries, as well as work in real estate, marketing and international trade. Harold loved the theater, swing music, travel, puns, and crosswords, and had an uncanny ability to recite entire stanzas of favorite poetry whenever the occasion arose. In later years, Harold enjoyed renewing many of his wartime friendships at annual reunions.
Harold’s greatest pride was in being a dedicated and supportive father to his children and their partners: Eden Rubenstein Toner and husband David Toner of Federal Way, Washington; Jeffrey Barnett Rubenstein and wife Rebecca Wilkinson of Cincinnati, Ohio; Daniel Aaron Rubenstein and wife Anne Thomas of Ann Arbor, Michigan, and; the late Amy Susan Rubenstein. He is also survived by his loving wife, Helen; his beloved sister, Elsie Smoler of Scarsdale, New York, and; five adoring grandchildren, the apples of his eye, Sara, Benjamin, Amy, Emma and Hannah.
A memorial service will be held on Thursday, August 10, 2006 at Bonney Watson Funeral Home in Federal Way, 1535 SW Dash Point Rd, Federal Way, WA 98023,followed by a military burial at Tahoma National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate remembrances to Jewish Family Services in Seattle, Washington.
Eden and family – my thoughts are with you. Wishing you comfort and peace at this difficult time.
Kristina
We were deeply saddened to learn of Harold’s passing. He was very loved and respected by all his “Chicago family”. Helen, please let us know if there is anything we can do. phone: 630-833-7115 or above e-mail I wish I could be with you and the family at this sad time.
Love,
Mary