Howard Rukeyser

RUKEYSER, HOWARD, of Westchester County, NY and Miami, FL, peacefully passed away on January 14. We are each grateful that Howard lived 92 years, mostly in excellent health. Born on January 25, 1922, he grew up in New York City. He was graduated from George Washington High School at the remarkable age of 14 and attended the City College of New York and the Brooklyn Law School. Howard proudly served in World War II as a sergeant in the U.S. Army Air Force as a bomber specialist and a technical trainer. Howard was an original founder of the Westchester Reform Temple in Scarsdale, New York. In 1953, Howard married Phyllis Garfinkle Rukeyser. Howard and Phyllis were married for 43 years until Phyllis passed. In 1998, Howard and Lois Model Schweiger were married - and they were an inseparable pair who were active participants in Miami's cultural offerings. For 51 years, Howard practiced law in Mount Vernon, New York. He was known in the community as a principled man who would take on many pro bono matters and one who was proud to have diverse clients with whom he took a personal interest and developed long-lasting relationships. Howard had an exceptional way with words - he had great wit, wrote poetry, and was an avid reader - especially of history and politics but most importantly he was a good and gentle man, a loving husband and devoted father and grand-father. Howard is survived by his wife, Lois Model Rukeyser, and four daughters, Elizabeth Rukeyser Johnson, Dina Rukeyser Dacy, Carla Model Williams, and Rosanne Model, four grandsons, Douglas Johnson, Isaac and Ari Dacy, and Eric Williams, as well as his much-loved nephew, nieces, and cousins. The family would like to thank the employees of the Miami Jewish Home for the Aged and Seasons Hospice, where Mr. Rukeyser received wonderful care. In lieu of flowers, the family would be very appreciative of donations made in the memory of Howard Rukeyser to Miami Jewish Health Systems. Services will take place at 1:00pm on Sunday, 18 January at Temple Israel of Greater Miami, 137 Northeast 19th street.

Published in the Miami Herald on Jan. 16, 2015

Arrangements under the direction of Riverside Gordon Memorial Chapels, Miami, FL.