Richard "Ricky" Harold Rubin

Ricky was born on August 21, 1970, in Boston, Massachusetts, and moved with his family to Plantation, Florida, when he was four years old. His childhood in South Florida was filled with wonderful memories, lifelong friendships, and stories that he continued to share and reminisce about throughout his life.

Ricky attended the University of South Florida before transferring to Florida Atlantic University, where he earned his bachelor’s degree.

Ricky built a successful and respected career in the gift card industry, where he was affectionately referred to by many as one of the “OGs” of the industry. Over the years, he built not only a career but countless relationships and friendships. His impact on the industry was significant, and he will be honored posthumously at the national industry conference in October.

Anyone who knew Ricky knew his enormous smile and larger-than-life personality. He was funny, outgoing, and so often the life of the party. He had a natural ability to connect with people and, just as importantly, to connect people with one another. Ricky made friends everywhere he went, and many of those friendships lasted for decades.

Ricky was a devoted New England sports fan and Miami Heat fan. He loved skiing and mountain biking, but more than anything, he loved spending time with his family and friends.

Ricky met the love of his life, Amanda, at a Super Bowl party, a fitting beginning for someone who loved sports and being surrounded by people. They married on April 16, 2005, and spent more than 21 years laughing together, raising their family, and building a wonderful life together.

Of all the things Ricky accomplished in his life, nothing made him prouder than his family. He absolutely adored his daughters, Sienna Rae and Sydnie Paige. In the days following his passing, so many of Ricky’s friends shared how often he talked about his girls and how incredibly proud he was of them. Being their dad was one of the greatest joys of his life.

Ricky is survived by his wife, Amanda Rubin; his daughters, Sienna Rae Rubin and Sydnie Paige Rubin; his father, Norman Rubin; his brother, Robert “Bobby” Rubin, Bobby’s wife, Michelle, and their sons, Scott, Andrew, and Matthew; his sister, Caroline “Carrie” Rubin; his brother-in-law, Darren, Darren’s wife, Jessica, and their three daughters; as well as many beloved cousins, extended family members, and countless friends. He was preceded in death by his mother, Sandra Rubin, who passed away on August 16, 1996.

Ricky’s family and friends gathered to honor his life on August 16, 2026—a date that carried special significance for his family, as it marked exactly 30 years since the passing of his mother, Sandra. Having these two profound moments in the Rubin family’s history forever connected by the same date made an already emotional day even more meaningful.

Ricky’s life ended far too soon, leaving an immeasurable void in the lives of those who knew and loved him. His legacy will live on through Amanda, Sienna and Sydnie, through the family and friends who loved him, through the industry he helped shape, and through the countless friendships and connections he made throughout his life.

We will remember Ricky for that unforgettable smile, his humor, his love of life, his ability to bring people together, his devotion to his family, and the way he made those around him feel like they mattered.

He was deeply loved, he will be profoundly missed, and he will remain forever in our hearts.