FELICE ANTHONY RUBINO
March 2, 1926 ~ March 24, 2012
Words...
Humble, honest, hard working, strong, supportive, loyal and ambitious. He represented the very best of what made America great.
More words...
He could be described as a trusted and beloved friend, son, brother, husband and father. Yet these words barely scratch the surface in describing a life truly dedicated to the welfare of others, rather than self.
Not enough...
Phil, as he liked to be called, loved people, all people, most of all his family and his friends. He loved life, no matter how difficult it became; and he inspired those of us who were born into a generation that seemed spoiled and had it easier than our parents to live life to its fullest. Make each day count as though it was the very last — that was the credo he taught by example, and through an abundance of stories and cheerful advice. To him, one lifetime was just not enough to learn enough, do enough, and achieve enough.
He was a son born to Italian immigrants, eldest of the four brothers (Felice, Silio, Michael, Thomas), who like so many others came to this country in search of a better life than the one allotted their station — If not for themselves, then at least for their children. Growing up during the Depression in the rough and tumble boroughs of Queens and the Bronx, Phil realized that his way out of the immigrant apartments was education. Ironically, he was forced to sacrifice school and join the Navy when World War II broke out. He served his country as a radioman aboard a destroyer in the Pacific.
More education...
After discharge, Phil resumed his trade as a bricklayer, but he didn't give up on education. He pursued and passed his General Educational Development (GED) test, the equivalent of a high school diploma.
He worked hard his entire life, when a day's work meant a day's work. He was up and out of the house by 5 a.m. everyday of his working life. He labored with his hands and proudly sported the rough hewn hands of a "working man", adding his sweat and talent to such New York City icons as the Bronx Zoo and Empire State Building, as well as a fireplace so beautiful that the doctors and lawyers he built it for put up plaques in his honor.
Phil provided for his family not only through the work week but on weekends as well. He'd pick up whatever side jobs he could find for some "extra" money for those little luxuries in life, such as vacations or an occasional weekend fishing trip or a nice set of threads: he was a sharp dresser still remembered for his black and white shoes and jackets. He could cut the carpet, too: met my mom at an Italian-American dance.
Through it all, our father continued to improve his mind by reading every book he could get his hands on. All subjects interested him — health, finance, world civilization and, most of all, medicine.
The move...
After a lifetime of living in New York — he was the consummate native New Yorker — Phil decided to follow his daughters to California. Not that he loved sun or had any intention of renouncing his roots, New York was embedded in his soul. He made the move with Brigitta out of a deep love for his family. He found Greater Los Angeles to be a curious, annoying, mystifying, baffling, maddening and infuriating place that lacked the much-missed necessities of life, such as incomparable bagels, pizza, bread, the perfect al dente pasta noodle, rain, street-smart people, sidewalks, good drivers, and last but not least — good tasting drinking water from the tap.
He found the unrelenting sunshine, which he described as "beating on my head", a tolerable inconvenience to be close to his family. "Ming'!....a guy's got to wear a hat all the time out here"...he was heard to say on more than one occasion. And, in typical Phil fashion, he made it an art form and, along the way, found many new friends in La-La Land.
Upon his retirement, he gladly took up the job of driving Brigitta to work, and doubled his passionate effort to learn as much as he could. He came to the studio every day and helped us with anything we needed, errands, driving to every fabric store in Los Angeles to find the exact color/texture fabric to match our paper swatch, and also delivering our comments back to the sign vendor so that he could achieve perfection — he was a great help.
No challenge seemed too big for Phil. He learned how to type and use that new innovation called the computer (to check his E*Trade account and of course, his lottery tickets), and he spent much time at homeopathic pharmacies learning about cures and techniques that he shared with all his friends and loved ones, always eager to recommend the best natural cures. As I said, he loved people and so helping them in any way that he could was an enormous source of pride and joy. Before he passed, he told us that he hoped he could come back in his next lifetime as a doctor, to help people and find a cure for cancer.
His legacy...
In honor of Phil, a scholarship fund has been created to help medical students. It is perhaps his finest legacy: to help someone else fulfill a dream he held dear.
Our family is deeply grateful to Dr. Tiande Yang, who administered treatments that gave our father — and all of us — six years of a full and happy life even after a dreaded diagnosis of only several months to live with no options in the western medicine world. Phil lived out each day and enjoyed life just as he and Mom always did, for over five decades together.
Our dad taught us to appreciate all the beautiful and fine things life had to offer. Of course, all with his ever-flowing advice and commentary (sometimes fiery), incredible humor and wit. With little or with luxury, it didn't matter. He could enjoy the local lemon ice king on the street or a slice of Brooklyn wood-fired, brick-oven pizza as much as a 5-star restaurant or full seafood buffet.
Our belief...
He was the very best of what we are and still can be. His life was a shining example of what one person can achieve given little more than the will and ambition to make life better for one's self, family and all others lucky enough to cross his path. His wisdom was the passionate way he lived, with laughter, joy and with deep gratitude for every gift this life offers, no matter how humble or how extravagant.
Dad died peacefully at home Saturday, March 24th at 9:45 a.m. Mom was at his side. He will be deeply missed — and always with us and in our thoughts.
Brigitta Rubino, Regina Rubino, Marilyn Rubino Telios, Robert Louey, Jim Telios, William Telios, Roberto Blandin, and Rusty
We hope to help at least one student with a scholarship in Phil's name at the school Dr. Yang teaches, and would greatly appreciate any help from our friends.
Kindly send donation to:
Ms. Yun Kim, CEO
Emperor's College of Traditional Oriental Medicine
1807 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 200
Santa Monica, CA 90403
please note on check: In memory of Felice Rubino
(please contact Yun@emperors.edu if you would like to donate via credit card)
...and special thank you to all of Phil's Angels ; ) Karan Freeman, Rabbi Sara Goodman, Lauren Sanchez, Vinny Picardi, Rolando Rosado, Gary, Robert, Zen and Yumiko, Tommy Rubino, Ron, Nurse Maria, Bey, Laura Wilkenson, Libby Donnell, Ruby and Marina.
