Barbara Dubin

Barbara Dubin, age 85, Prominent Consultant, Educator, Community and Political Leadership Activist, of Portland, Oregon, formerly of Dartmouth, MA, died November 3, 2014 in Portland, OR following a brief illness. She was the wife of the late Arnold M. Dubin, after whom the Arnold M. Dubin Labor Education Center at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth is named.

Born in New Brunswick, New Jersey, a daughter of the late Louis and Jean (Feinberg) Frischling, she resided in New Jersey for 21 years, Hartford, CT for 6 years, New Bedford for 1 year and in Dartmouth for over 50 years before moving to Oregon.

A graduate of Highland Park High School in New Brunswick, NJ, class of 1946, she graduated from Douglas College of Rutgers University in 1950. She received her Master’s in Education and Counseling from Rhode Island College in 1972 and her PhD in Educational Psychology from Union Graduate School in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1975. She also studied at Southern New England Law School in N. Dartmouth.

Among her many positions, she had served as Re-Location Officer for the City of New Bedford during the construction of I-195 and various Urban Renewal projects in the city. She was a Counselor and Psychology Professor at Bristol Community College for 12 years and Labor Co-coordinator for the United Way of Greater New Bedford.

In recent years, she founded and operated Dubin Associates, a consulting firm for non-profit interests and organizations.

She was also very active in Democratic Party efforts, serving during the campaigns of Gov. Dukakis, Cong. Studds, Cong. Frank and Cong. McGovern. She was especially proud of her achievements as Bristol County Chairperson for the passage of the Equal Rights Amendment to our State Constitution. She was active in the League of Women Voters, Massachusetts Senior Citizens Action Committee, W.H.A.L.E. of New Bedford, New Bedford Art Museum, YMCA of New Bedford and Advisory Committee of the Arnold M. Dubin Labor Education Center with particular interest in the “English as Second Language” program.

In June 2002, Mrs. Dubin was invited to participate in Every Women’s Voice: 125 years of Women’s Leadership by the Women’s Educational and Industrial Union of Boston. Photos of the 125 women were displayed at the Massachusetts State House during June and July of 2002.

Dr. Dubin retired and moved to Portland Oregon in October 2005.

She remained active in her senior community. She was vice president of The Rose Schnitzer Manor Resident Council for one year and served as President of the 175 member organization for two terms. She was active in the Food Committee and the Social Action Committee. She participated in the Memoir Writing group, the play writing group, beading and knitting activities as well as many other social and educational activities at the assisted living facility.

Survivors include a daughter, Faith Dubin and her husband Anthony LeMay of Beaverton, Oregon; a son, Steven V. Dubin and his wife Wendy of Plymouth, MA; five grandchildren, Abraham, Isaac and Hannah Dubin and Alexandra and Brooks LeMay. She was the sister of the late Elaine Adams.

Her Funeral Service will be held on Friday, November 7, 2014 at 10AM in the Waring-Sullivan Home of Memorial Tribute at Dartmouth, 230 Russells Mills Rd., Dartmouth followed by burial at 12:30pm in the Massachusetts National Cemetery, Bourne. Following the committal, a reception will be held at The Waterfront Grille, 36 Homers Wharf, New Bedford. Please do not send flowers. At the request of Mrs. Dubin and her family, memorial contributions may be made to the Arnold M. Dubin Labor Education Center, U-Mass Dartmouth, 285 Old Westport Rd., Dartmouth, MA 02747. For online tributes and directions please visit: www.waring-sullivan.com