Ruth Ann Silverman Rubin, widow of the late Rabbi Alvan D. Rubin of Temple Israel, was remembered with respect and fondness by her family members and friends.

Mrs. Rubin died Tuesday, March 17, 2009 at the age of 82. She had suffered from Parkinson’s disease for the past few years. At her funeral service on March 19, in the May Chapel at Temple Israel where Rabbi Mark Shook officiated, Mrs. Rubin was eulogized by the rabbi, her children and grandchildren.

Prior to the service, Dr. Arlene Stiffman, wife of Rabbi Jeffrey B. Stiffman, Rabbi Emeritus of Congregation Shaare Emeth, told the St. Louis Jewish Light, “Ruth Ann Rubin took her role as the wife of Rabbi Rubin very seriously. She was also a terrific mom, grandmother, friend and mentor. Both she and Rabbi Rubin were very supportive of the Saul Mirowitz School-Reform Jewish Academy.” The Rubins’ daughter, Carol Rubin is director of Judaic life at SMS-RJA.

Words of remembrance were offered by Dr. David Rubin, the oldest of Ruth Ann’s three children. “Ruth Ann Silverman Rubin was many things to different people,” he said. “Mother, grandmother, mother-in-law, wife, teacher, role model: she eagerly fulfilled many sensitive and critical roles during her long life.”

Ruth Ann Silverman Rubin was born on May 31, 2009 in Baltimore. She spent much of her younger years in New York, near the site of Yankee Stadium in the Bronx. She received a bachelor of arts degree in theater from New York University’s acclaimed Drama Department. Mrs. Rubin and Rabbi Alvan D. Rubin were married in 1949 in New York. Rabbi Rubin was named senior rabbi of Temple Israel in St. Louis in 1967, and served in that position until his retirement in 1987, when he became rabbi emeritus. Rabbi Rubin died in 2006.

Words of tribute were also offered by Amy Rubin Schottland, one of Ruth Ann and Rabbi Alvan Rubin’s daughters, who said her parents balanced each other perfectly. “He was a public person, she was a private person; he the extrovert, she the introvert. He could remember peoples’ faces, she could remember their names. She was a Rebbetzin who hosted thousands of Shabbat dinners and even could host a barbecue for confirmation kids at our home.”

Both Amy Rubin Schottland and Carol Rubin recalled how well-organized and meticulous Ruth Ann Rubin was as a hostess, keeping a detailed log of all of the various dinners she hosted, what she served and the quantities and who attended, so that she could prepare for the following year or event. They also pointed out that she was a master knitter.

Rabbi Shook good naturedly recalled meeting Rabbi and Ruth Ann Rubin when he was being interviewed for a rabbinic position in his graduating year at the Hebrew Union College. “Ruth Ann Rubin is part of the reason that I am here at Temple Israel. Rabbi Rubin was asking me all the questions, but I felt like I was also answering Ruth Ann, who was listening very closely even as she was knitting.”

Mrs. Rubin was also praised for her many years as a volunteer reader for the blind and for her other charitable work in the community.

Following the service at Temple Israel, burial was at the New Mount Sinai Cemetery.

In addition to Mrs. Rubin’s children, survivors include eight grandchildren. Mrs. Rubin was the sister of the late Dr. Robert Shelton and sister-in-law of the late Rabbi Mordecai (Gilla) Rubin. The family expressed its gratitude to the team of caregivers at the Gatesworth. Contributions in Mrs. Rubin’s memory may be made to the Saul Mirowitz Day School-Reform Jewish Academy, 11411 N. Forty Drive, St. Louis, Mo. 63131 or to Congregation Temple Israel, #1 Rabbi Alvan D. Rubin Drive, St. Louis, Mo. 63141.