Richard L. Rubin

The family of Richard L. Rubin, 92, of Purchase, New York, is saddened to announce that Richard passed peacefully on the morning of January 25, 2022 at his home in Purchase NY. Born and raised in NYC, Richard graduated from the Fieldston School (’47), Brown University (’51), and after a successful business career in textiles, earned his Ph. D. in Political Science from Columbia University (’72). It was at Brown, during ‘freshman week’, that Richard met his future wife Helene. They married in 1950 before their senior year at Brown, and raised 5 children together. In 1979 Richard became a professor of political science at Swarthmore College, where he was a beloved mentor to many over his 30-year tenure there. He authored numerous papers and several books, including most recently, “Jewish in America: Living George Washington’s Promise”. Richard was also very active in the contemporary art world with his brothers William (chief curator of Painting and Sculpture at the Museum of Modern Art) and Lawrence, (former President of the Knoedler Gallery) with whom he partnered in numerous ventures in the field. Richard was the founding President of the Dedalus Foundation, which was established by his dear friend, the artist Robert Motherwell.  Through Richard’s early leadership, Dedalus is recognized as one of the most esteemed of artist endowed foundations. A member since 1956 of Quaker Ridge Golf Club in Scarsdale, Richard was an avid competitive golfer and student of the game. He was club champion in 1984. Predeceased by his brothers and his son Jeffrey, Richard is survived by his wife of 71 years, Helene, his children Lynn, Steven (Karen), Kathy, and Laurie (Morgan), 9 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren.

Richard was a man of high ideals and generosity, and a fierce advocate for fairness and tolerance. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made in his memory to the Richard Rubin Scholars Mentoring Program, which provides guidance and financial support for students from underserved communities. Please make checks payable to Swarthmore College and mail to: Swarthmore College, Attn: Gift Records, 500 College Ave, Swarthmore, PA 19081. Please include Richard Rubin's name on the memo line of the check. Or online at gift.swarthmore.edu (select “other” and enter Richard Rubin Mentoring Program).

Private Graveside Services will be held at Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Hawthorne, N.Y. on Thursday, Jan.27,2022,  for immediate family members only.