Rubin, Al

Born Oct 04, 1928
Died Jul 03, 2008

1986 “BARBERSHOPPER OF THE YEAR”

• From 2009 Annual Show Program:
  
  In Memoriam – Al Rubin
  He loved life …
  
       Al Rubin had not sung with us for several years although he helped out with some of the backstage chores in recent years. Al and his wife Dolly were very committed to their family and were deeply involved in their kids' activities as the family grew up. He did, however, find time for active involvement in our chapter in a variety of ways. Al was active in the administration as well as singing in the chorus and several different quartets through the years. He was a guy who would immerse himself in building the set for a show or singing tags in the parking lot until no one else was left. Although Al was seriously injured in a trucking accident, he spent his time in the hospital leaning the music for our show and performed in a wheel chair. We ere all dressed in green as “moon men” and he had draped a sheet over the chair and had a couple of “google eyes” that he could move … he had the audience in stitches for a good five minutes as he rolled on and around the stage!
       Each year our chapter goes out Christmas caroling for the Christmas Caroler's Association. We sing at a variety of establishments around the Florissant area and pass the cans to collect donations. For many years Al was the guy who arranged the route and was the most enthusiastic supporter of the program. He had a heart for donating to worthy organizations and continued to remind us that we, as a chapter, needed to maintain a high level of support for charities each year.
       We all have fond memories of Al … among them, “Let's All Go Down to Mary Ann's”. It's been a privilege to call him a friend.

• My dad, Jack Martin, has been a Barbershopper my whole life!! I don't have a memory of my childhood that didn't seem to revolve around singing. I think though that the first crush I had on a man was the one I had on Al Rubin. I was two or three years old and he was....well I'm not to sure how old he was at the time(1974ish) but he was older!! He called me his Sugar-plum and pick me up and put me on his lap and treated me like a princess. I remember how wonderful it felt to sit on the piano bench in our kitchen and listen to that quartet sing. I'm not sure how good they were, but to me, they were the best singers in the world. It hurts my heart to think that he is not in this world anymore. However, I hope he's up in heaven knowing that I thought he was better than sliced bread. Please pass this on to his wife Dolly, I am truly sorry for your loss and I am crying with you. He was a great man!!
  
  Sincerely
  Kelly 'Martin' Starling

• I will always remember Al saying PICK ME PICK ME well he has been picked to sing with that old gang of ours in heaven. I bet there singing his favorite tag Lonesome Prairie.
  
  John Guittar.