David M. Rubinstein

We can judge the heart of man by his treatment of animals. “ Immanuel KantBy this measure, David M. Rubinstein of Boulder, Colorado was a profoundly kind soul.David was born in Chicago on November 9, 1942 to Jack and Florence Rubinstein. After growing up in Oak Park, Illinois and Denver, Colorado, he rose to prominence as an academic. He earned his Bachelor's degree and PhD in sociology at CU-Boulder, and later moved to Chicago to begin his career as an assistant professor at the University of Illinois. David earned tenure and rose to full professor in the Department of Sociology, where he combined brilliant scholarship with uncommon athletic talents. David authored acclaimed works of scholarship (Marx and Wittgenstein: Social Praxis and Social Explanation (1981); Culture, Structure & Agency (2001)) and was an intramural weightlifting champion. Always the iconoclast, David delighted in challenging the conventional wisdom of sociologists and political philosophers with imaginative and compelling arguments that provoked strong feelings among supporters and detractors.After retirement, David and his wife of 27 years, Chien Lin, moved back to the Boulder area. They settled in Sunshine Canyon and enjoyed years of peaceful but active daily routines built around their beloved dogs Meibau (since deceased), Brown Nina (also deceased) and Black Nina (alive, well and always hungry).The kindnesses (some would say indulgences) he showed towards these loyal dogs, and indeed to all animals, would form a defining aspect of his character. As David grew older, he often mused on the cruelty of hunting while watching deer graze near his mountain home. In fact, despite his love of shooting sports, he never wanted to shoot anything other than paper targets, soup cans or rotting fruit. In retirement, David enjoyed writing op-ed articles challenging conventional thinking. These op-eds were frequently published in prominent newspapers. He also resumed his athletic career, winning a gold medal as a sprinter in the 2013 Rocky Mountain Senior Games.In addition to Chien, the love of his life, David has two sisters: Robbie (husband: J l), who lives in Pueblo, and Judith (partner: Peter), who resides in Boulder. He also has one son, Jacob ( Jake), who currently lives in Chicago but whose heart will always be in his birthplace and true home: Boulder. David enjoyed a small but close circle of family and friends which included his granddaughter, Jenelle, who shares his affection for all members of the animal kingdom; nephew Jason who traveled from his home in Thailand to Boulder to visit in David's final days; nephews Daniel and Paul, Jr.; niece Michelle (husband: Florian), and his dear friends Linda Chavez and Chris Gersten, whose fierce loyalty and devotion made them more like family than friends.David left this life on May 10, 2015. On that day, the world lost a man whose heart was inhabited by a thoroughly unconventional but deeply authentic kindness which his family and friends, both canine and human, will forever miss. Visit www.ahlbergfuneralchapel.com to share condolences.