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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
CELEBRATING THE LIFE AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF HARVEY AND AVIVA RUBIN
WHEREAS, Aviva Rubin (nee Epstein), 91, of Evanston, passed away on January 4, 2021. Harvey, her beloved husband of 64 years, preceded her in death on December 23, 2020 at the age of 93. They are the parents of Dr. Rachel Rubin, current co-director of the Cook County Department of Public Health; and
WHEREAS, Aviva was born in Jerusalem, while her mother was staying with her parents and siblings who had immigrated there in the mid 1920’s. Aviva’s mother, Rebecca, had to leave the United States for several months while her husband, Rabbi Sholom Epstein, awaited the confirmation of his American citizenship. Rebecca returned to the United States with Aviva after her husband became a citizen; and
WHEREAS, Aviva grew up in Missouri and Iowa as her father moved between synagogue congregations while pursuing his rabbinical career. Aviva graduated from high school at 16 years of age and attended college at the University of Iowa. After college, she moved to New York for a year to pursue graduate studies. Eventually she returned to Chicago, to join her parents and sister, and eventually met her husband, Harvey; and
WHEREAS, Harvey grew up in Humboldt Park above his grandfather’s bakery and was a graduate of the University of Illinois. He spent his 40-year career in advertising, starting out as a copywriter, eventually becoming the creative director of an agency; and
WHEREAS, Aviva had several careers during her lifetime. The first one was as a speech pathologist for Chicago Public Schools. Then she was a stay-at-home mother with her three children. The third phase of her career was at Northwestern University as a senior editor at University Relations. She loved her job at Northwestern and found nothing was more satisfying as wielding a red pencil to correct other people’s writing errors; and
WHEREAS, Harvey was witty, funny, and loved a good party and a gin martini. He was a wonderful dancer. Harvey spent many years performing in community theater in Chicago, where he met Aviva in the early 1950s. He was especially proud of his Boris Karloff impression and sang songs to his children from the musical, The Boyfriend. Theater companies especially close to his heart back in the 1960s and 1970s were the Hull House Theater and the Old Town Players. Harvey later served as a committee member of the Joseph Jefferson Awards for decades, judging dozens of theater productions every season; and
WHEREAS, an accomplished gourmet cook, Aviva was a devotee of Julia Child and was an avid watcher of her early television cooking shows. In addition, she was an incredibly skilled knitter and sewer, enjoying making sweaters and clothes for herself and her family; and
WHEREAS, travel and dining were a huge part of Harvey and Aviva’s lives. They loved Italy, but their many travels included Vietnam, Russia, China, India, Israel, Thailand, England and elsewhere in Europe and Mexico. Aviva loved to research their trips far in advance to assure that no museum or historical sites were overlooked. They especially loved their cruise down the Nile River and exploring the Dalmatian Coast in Croatia, in addition to visiting Prague, Spain and Portugal; and
WHEREAS, always a fervent supporter of equal rights, Aviva was an active protester and campaigner for the Equal Rights Amendment as well as for local Democratic politicians in Chicago and Evanston. Both Aviva and Harvey were active members of Beth Emet The Free Synagogue in Evanston. Through their synagogue, they participated in a Jewish-Catholic dialogue with parishioners at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, also in Evanston, the purpose of which was to promote understanding and cooperation between the two groups; and
WHEREAS, Aviva and Harvey brought great joy to all they met; and instilled to all a commitment to justice through their actions; and
WHEREAS, Aviva and Harvey are survived by their children; David (Rachel), Rachel (Sam Evens) and Mimi; Aviva’s sister Adina (the late Robert) Romain, and Harvey’s sister, Sheila (Joe) Wolinsky. They are the devoted grandparents of Julia, Ben, and Alea.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Commissioners of Cook County, on behalf of the 5.2 million residents of Cook County, honors the life and contributions of Aviva and Harvey Rubin, and herewith expresses its sincere gratitude for the invaluable contributions they made to the Citizens of Cook County, Illinois; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a suitable copy of this Resolution be spread upon the official proceedings of this Honorable Body and that an official copy of same be tendered to the family of Aviva and Harvey Rubin.
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