February 7, 1943 – April 4, 2020
Gerald Allan Rubinfeld
Gerry Rubinfeld, longtime resident of New Canaan, passed away peacefully in the serene care of the Regional Hospice in Danbury. He is survived by his wife of fifty two years, Laura; his three daughters, Emilie, Jenny and Claire; his five granddaughters, Madeline, Alexandra, Whitney, Eleanor and Chloe; his son’s in-law Erik and Mike; and his brother and sister, Michael and Lori.
Gerry was born in New York, attended Brooklyn Tech, Queens College, St. John’s Law School and Baruch College where he received his MBA. He spent his career in the textile industry at companies including Hoechst Fibers, Celanese, Dillon Yarn and Texfi Industries where he served as President. Gerry and Laura moved to New Canaan in 1981 after living in New York City, where they met as young executives at the JC Penney Company, Los Angeles and Dallas.
A lifelong sports enthusiast, Gerry attended his first Yankee game at the Bronx Stadium with his Father when he was three years old and fell in love with the team and the game. While living in Dallas, he was a weekly guest on station KERA’s “Friday Morning Sports Spectacular”. He was an avid fan of the NY Giants, Rangers and Knicks, as well as University of Michigan football, UConn Women’s basketball and of course the New Canaan High School Rams. As a New Canaan Dad, Gerry manifested his passion for sports by coaching soccer, softball and basketball teams for his three daughters.
Throughout his life, he was an inveterate world traveler, both for business and pleasure. Gerry made every vacation a global adventure and opportunity for his family to embrace history, culture, people and food. These trips always included a search for the latest edition of the International Herald Tribune with the NY Times crossword that he completed nearly every day, in ink, through his 77th birthday. He loved to share stories and memories of those trips with his friends and family which led him to write poetry and a restaurant & travel column for various industry trade publications under the pseudonym “Laura Susband”. His wit, intellectual curiosity and depth of knowledge of all genres of music, film and Broadway made him at the center of every gathering. Gerry will be dearly missed.
This is a lovely tribute to a gentleman with infinite interests, abundant talents and commendable humility. Those of us who have known him for decades had little knowledge of the depth and breadth of his wisdom and insatiable quest for international experiences.
What was pre-eminently evident in every conversation and every shared photo was Gerry’s deep and abiding love for ALL of his girls. His devotion to Laura was at once his inspiration and his strength.
While death may silence his wit and wisdom, his words and love will resonate in all of our hearts and in our fond reminiscences of this truly special gentleman.
We offer our deepest condolences to Gerry’s wonderful family; and pray that they are finding support in all who surround them with love.
In time, their cherished memories will bring them a sense of peace.
To the family
Our sincerest condolences for your loss, from reading the obituary it is apparent that this man lived a full and respected life.
It is a sad time for your family and yet a celebration of a life well lived.
Bart and Janice
I would like to add a few words to honor the memory of such a stimulating and enjoyable man. Gerry Rubinfeld was a delight and the center of energy in every gathering. He was an original in thought and expression. Lastly, he was such a caring person. He has left his family a rich legacy. Gerry will be deeply missed by those who loved him. Jeanne Rozel
It is with condolences and deep sympathy I write the family. Having known Gerry only through the conversations with my friend “Li’l Gerry” , I am sorry for the loss to you all. He truly was a Renaisance Man. His spirit remains in your heart forever. May it bring you comfort.