KIM A. RUBIN
Kim A. Rubin died peacefully at her home in Santa Fe, New Mexico on May 16th, shortly after sunset. Kim was 72 and had fought a lengthy battle against progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP). She was born in London, Ontario (Canada), but in search of work and a better life, her parents brought her to Michigan. At age eight, she and her family became U.S. citizens. She is survived by her children, Josh Rubin (Katie) of Santa Fe and Mia Napolitano (Frank) of Albuquerque, grandchildren Jalena, David, Harry, Vince and Naomi, sisters Missey and Jeri (and her siblings’ beautiful families), husband Jim and beloved doggies, Wall-e and Ernie B.
Kim’s strong, dedicated and loving mother Hilda was her guiding light. Kim carried Hilda’s strengths, values and independence throughout her life. When faced with personal, health or professional challenges, Kim’s only choice was to follow in Hilda’s footsteps: she persisted!
Kim’s zest for adventure could be masked by her more reserved nature. Following her graduation from Michigan State University, she spent a year in Europe where she managed a local business in Switzerland, almost always wore a fedora, and became a fantastic skier. After returning to the U.S. to teach elementary school in Chicago, she was introduced to Jim because of their mutual love for skiing. During more than 40 years of marriage, Jim joined her for many bump runs and après skis, journeys around the U.S. and across the world, and he supported her independent expeditions.
Near the end of an epic road trip through almost every western state in 1972, Kim discovered her second true love - Santa Fe where they settled in 1973. There was no question that Santa Fe was home, and she never, never ever looked back. ¡Adelante! She cherished Santa Fe’s sunsets, hikes and food, but her greatest enjoyment was bartering her professional expertise for art, clothing, rafting trips, massages and "gift certificates" for other local services.
Kim’s favorite adventure was building a family. She and Jim, both raised in dysfunctional homes, provided Josh and Mia a loving, stable and supportive home life. Kim attended every competition, encouraged her children to reach for the stars, championed their own adventures, and was ever-present during tough times.
Her life’s work was to support all children, and she attained multiple graduate degrees and certifications to broaden and deepen her skills. In Santa Fe, Kim began as a resource room teacher at Kearney Elementary, and then, at E.J. Martinez, she pioneered the Santa Fe Public Schools’ enrichment program with Bergit Salazar. After Josh’s birth, she became the Diagnostics Coordinator for SFPS to identify and support children with learning differences and for gifted programs. Later in the 1980s, she opened a family therapy practice, and as Mia grew older Kim created Rubin Educational Resources. RER was an educational consulting firm built on the full breadth of Kim’s experience, and it also supported teenagers with college counseling and placements in therapeutic and traditional boarding schools. At its peak, RER’s staff exceeded 15 professionals, and Kim served children across the country.
Beyond family, work, skiing and travel, Kim’s other passions were tennis, hiking, and her puppies. How did she manage to fit so many activities and responsibilities into a single day? She had a simple trick: she ran late! Friends learned that she should bring dessert, not hors d’oeuvres. She discovered that optimism, integrity, and an easy smile can go a long way toward getting a pass for being late.
A PSP diagnosis typically comes with a 2-3-year life expectancy. Kim developed a simple plan: she persisted, only looking forward, never back. And… Death also had to wait a very, very long time. Kim was just too darn busy tripling the doctors’ declarations about how long she could hold off the disease.
In lieu of flowers, she wished that contributions be made to CurePSP (www.psp.org) to help in the battle against neurogenerative disease, or to a local charity supporting children.
Please join her family in a celebration of her life at 5:00 p.m. on Monday, May 28, on the grounds of the International Folk Art Museum on Museum Hill in Santa Fe.