Rubin Francis Weston’s long life’s journey ended just short of his 97th birthday. He was born in
Richland County, SC, on July 7, 1921, the second of three children born to Willie and Louise
(Hopkins) Weston. His birthdate was mistakenly recorded as August 12, which remained his
official birthday until his death. Formerly of Xenia, Ohio; he departed this life at Palisades
retirement community in Colorado Springs, CO, on May 15, 2018.
His early years were spent in North and South Carolina, and he always thought of himself as a
southerner, but in 1936 the family fled the depression South and settled in Philadelphia. There
he grew to adulthood, and there his heart--and his family--remained for the rest of his life.
In Philly he graduated from the prestigious Central High School for boys.
Like many men of his generation, Rubin served in World War II. His naval career was brief, but
it left him with a life-long love of seafood, Newport, RI, and the friendly girls of East Coast
seaports. He never tired of reminiscing about his time in the Philadelphia Navy Yard, and his
Navy duty spent entirely on land. He was of the fortunate generation of men who were
launched into successful careers by the postwar GI Bill.
What was to become a long academic career began at North Carolina College at Durham (now
NC Central University), where he earned BA and MA degrees. In 1964, as a two-time Danforth
fellow, he finished a PhD in history and geography at Syracuse University. His doctoral
research was later published as Racism in US Imperialism (University of South Carolina Press,
1972)
As a teen in Philadelphia, Rubin began working in bake shops, and became an accomplished
Jewish baker (his favorite joke). He continued baking at night while attending college and
raising a family. Throughout his life his intellectual accomplishments were matched by his
cloud-light pocket rolls and world-class cheesecake. He loved good food, and loved to prepare
it. A number of relatives have followed in his wake to become superb cooks, several of them
male.
Rubin began his long teaching career as a high school history teacher in North Carolina, then
was recruited to teach at his alma mater while still a graduate student. In 1964, new doctorate
in hand, he accepted a position as Chairman of Social Sciences at South Carolina State
University, where he remained until 1968. From then until his retirement in 1992 he was
Professor , then Chair, of the History Department at Central State University in Wilberforce, OH.
Once retired from teaching, Rubin operated an Arby’s restaurant for 18 years. There his
Danish rolls and biscuits drew an appreciative public. His final, definitive, once-and-for-all
retirement came in 2005 at the age of 84, when he agreed to try to learn how to relax.
Rubin’s long life, both public and private, was marked by outspoken activism, particularly on
behalf of those deprived of basic human rights. He fought injustice of any kind, whatever shape
it took, finding that the just side was often not the popular side. Most notably, in 1968 he found
himself caught up in events at SC State University which came to be known as the Orangeburg
Massacre. Similar, though better known, events occurred two years later at Kent State
University. Once again, he championed the side of justice and earned himself the enmity of
powerful people. The family left South Carolina. February 2018 marked the 50th anniversary of
the Orangeburg Massacre.
To the end of his life he always spoke up, always confronted sham and unfairness. To those
who worked with him, and to those who learned from him, he cast a long shadow.
In addition to his wife, Elisabeth, Rubin is survived by his children Kittie Weston- Knauer (Max)
of Des Moines, IA; Saber Muslim (Mariam) of Greensboro, NC; John Willie Weston (Lisa), of
East Hampton, NY; and Rachel Weston Ukawa (Kang), of Tokyo, Japan. His grandchildren
range in age from 50 years to 9 months: Yvette Stroman, Crescendel Stroman Moss (Willie),
Max Knauer IV (Kelli), Joseph P. Knauer, Jovan Weston (Candice), Jasmine Weston Thomas
(Nathaniel), Joy Weston, Jamaica Weston, Joseph C. Weston (Megan), LaSaundra Weston,
Bashir Muslim, Indigo Weston, Cayla Weston and Kai Ukawa. He is survived by 14
great-grandchildren. Rubin was preceded in death by his parents, sister Willie Mae Bullock,
brother Wade Weston, and by four of his children: Clinton (1962), Joseph (2004), and Martin
(2018) Weston, and Jennifer (Theresa) Prather (2018).
Memorial services will be held in conjunction with a family reunion later in the year, at the family
home in Philadelphia, with interment in Rolling Green Memorial Park, West Chester, PA. As he
was the last of his generation in his family, and one of the few surviving WWII veterans, Rubin’s
passing marks the end of an era. He will be greatly missed.
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