Aaron J. Rashbaum, passed away at St Barnabas Hospital on Saturday, November 3, 2018. A gravesite service will be held at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, November 7, at Fairview Cemetery, 1100 E Broad St, Westfield, NJ 07090. An afternoon repast will follow at the Spanish Tavern at 1239 US-22, Mountainside, NJ 07092.
Aaron was a lifelong Brooklynite, living for more than 50 years in Brooklyn Heights. He served in the Marines during the Second World War in the Pacific theater. He subsequently earned a Bachelors and MBA from City College of New York, with a major in accounting. He worked as an accountant in a number of positions over the years, before starting his own company – A Square Insignia. (Aaron’s wife of fifty years is Ann/Angelina and together Aaron and Ann were known as “A Square.”). Aaron retired in 1986.
Aaron was devoted to enjoying a rich cultural life. He and Ann regularly organized groups of friends to attend Broadway shows. They also chaperoned high school students at Metropolitan Opera rehearsals. For many years they had a vacation home in western Massachusetts and frequently attended Tanglewood performances.
Aaron loved to travel, particularly with family and friends, and made numerous international trips, getting to every continent but Australia and Antarctica.
Aaron was also active in his community, participating in the Neighborhood Watch program in Brooklyn and in the homeowners association for his vacation home in Shelter Island. Aaron valued his Jewish heritage and was always an active participant in family celebrations of the Jewish holy days.
Aaron was a true mensch, known for his reliability, generosity, and kindness. One of the things he was most proud of was his role in helping to raise his grandson Jess. His motto was, “I’m a lover, not a fighter.”
Aaron is survived by his wife Ann (Angelina); his step-children Paula Ochs (John Willard) and David Ochs (Josephine Pascua Ochs); his grandchildren Nathan Shackleford, Jess Ochs-Willard, Anjelica Ochs, and Benjamin and Jenna Rashbaum; his sister Sydelle Arrigo; and his children from a previous marriage, Joanne and Steven Rashbaum;
In lieu of flowers, donations in Aaron’s memory may be made to the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans or to The Nature Conservancy, which supports the Mashomack Preserve on Shelter Island, NY.
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