Fredda June Koffman Rubman

Fredda June Koffman Rubman, an active resident of Harmony Hall in Columbia, Maryland, died on October 31. Fredda was born in 1926, daughter of Eva (née Caditz) and Harry Koffman, and grew up in Boston then Chicago. After earning a bachelor’s degree in English from Northwestern University, Fredda moved to Washington D.C. to be near her long-time fiancé, later husband. In her early years there, she worked as a writer for advertising and radio. In 1949, she married Herbert Rubman, her husband of nearly 70 years until his death in 2019.

Inseparable, they shared a full and busy life in College Park, Silver Spring, and Bethesda, Maryland, raising two daughters, and founding and running Rubman Wholesale Furniture Center in Georgetown, D.C. In later years, they traveled widely, living part of the year then all of the year in Delray Beach, Florida. They moved to Harmony Hall in 2017 to be closer to family.

Fredda was creative, sharp-witted, strong-minded, and funny. She had great business and investment savvy, and a talent for travel planning. She enjoyed writing clever verses and songs in honor of family events, and playing word games, especially Scrabble. Fredda maintained a strong interest in news and world events. To the end, she was devoted to her extended family, always eager to hear their news and provide support.

She leaves daughters Arna (Allen Berkowitz) and Kerill/Kerri (David Proud) Rubman; grandsons Hart (Amber) Berkowitz, with sons Jake (age 11) and Koby (age 8), and Efron (Rachel) Berkowitz, with son Shai (6 months); and the descendants of her late beloved sister, Louise (two nieces, two nephews, their 9 children and one grandson).

On Tuesday, November 15th, 2022 at 1:45pm, a graveside service will be held at Crownsville Veterans Cemetery 1122 Sunrise Beach Rd, Crownsville, MD 21032, where Fredda will be laid to rest next to her late husband.

If you choose to give a donation in memory of Fredda Rubman, suggested organizations include the League of Women Voters (https://www.lwv.org/give), the Columbia Jewish Congregations' Tzedakah Fund (https://www.columbiajewish.org/give/), or a cause of your choice.