Nathan Dubin

Nathan Lewis Dubin, D.M.D., of West Hartford, died Sunday, (January 9, 2005) in West Palm Beach, FL. Born in Hartford, he was the son of the late William and Ida (Shectman) Dubinsky. He played the violin and saxophone and sang with his own orchestra, Nat Dubin and his Brown Derby Orchestra. He attended the University of Connecticut and received his degree from Tufts University of Dental Medicine. He did graduate studies at Harvard Dental School in Oral Surgery, the Institute of Oral Pathology, Columbia University in Applied Anatomy, Washington University in Prosthodontics, and Tufts School of Dental Medicine in Occluso-Rehabilitation. During World War II he was a consulting oral surgeon of the Army Air Force. He developed new pain therapy for Temporomandibular Joint Syndrome. He advanced the use of antibiotics in dentistry while practicing reconstructive surgery in the Air Force as Consulting Oral Surgeon during World War II. He volunteered doing dental work one day per week at the Hartford Dispensary at the beginning of his career where people waited for his day before coming to the Dispensary. He was a fellow of the International College of Dentists, the American College of Dentists, the Academy of Dental Science, and the Academy of Dental Medicine, Pierre Fouchard Academy and the American Equilibration Society. Dr. Dubin was a past president of the American Academy of Occluso-Rehabilitation and was the head of the Connecticut Prosthodontic Society. In 1968, the Board of Regents conferred a fellowship in the American College of Dentists upon Dr. Dubin at its national dental convention. Dr. Dubin was appointed by Governor Thomas J. Meskill, by the late Governor Ella T. Grasso, and by Governor William A. O’Neill to three consecutive five-year terms as a member of the Connecticut Dental Commission. He also served as Chairman of the Commission. He was a member of the New England Regional Board of Dental Examiners. He had offices at 18 Asylum Avenue in Hartford, moving to One Financial Plaza in Hartford, specializing in prosthodontics, especially Occluso-Rehabilitation. Dr. Dubin was published extensively about his profession, and was a lecturer and clinician in the United States, France, Israel, the Dominican Republic and South America. He taught other dentists in his office without charge, and provided dental services to many patients who could not afford them. He received multiple Paul Harris Recognitions from the Rotary Club of Hartford. The most recent one was awarded to him on May 17, 2004, when he received the Vocational Service Award from the Rotary Club of Hartford at a Gala Luncheon in his honor at Congregation Beth Israel attended by almost 200 people from all walks of the community. Dr. Dubin had 48 years of perfect attendance at Rotary Meetings. He never missed a meeting from the day he joined and he played a critical role in the success of the Polio Plus campaign. In 1970 Dr. Dubin was elected as the 28th President of Congregation Beth Israel in West Hartford and continued to serve as a Trustee. He was a former member of the Board of Directors of Jewish Federation of Greater Hartford and the Greater Hartford Jewish Community Center where he was a Campership Endowment Benefactor since 1964. At the Hebrew Home & Hospital in West Hartford he served on the Board of Directors, as Vice-President, the Finance Committee, and Public Relations. He was also a Justice of the Peace, a member of West Hartford Fellowship Housing, Level Lodge No. 137 A.F. & A.M., the Shriners, Tumble Brook Country Club of Bloomfield, and The Hartford Club. He will be greatly missed by his loving family who remember his joyous singing, jokes and stories. He was the beloved husband of Renee (Pregulman) Dubin; cherished father of Libet (Lyda) and Dr. David Streiff and their children Cole and Kerry, Wendy Dubin and Dr. Brooks Bitterman and their son Alex, Susan and Attorney Stephen J. Nahley and their daughter Charlotte, and Pamela Dubin. He was predeceased by his siblings, Rebecca Miller, Philip Dubinsky, Rose Schulman, Morris Dubinsky, Mae Apter, Jack Dubin, and Fran Gross. Funeral services will be held Friday, January 14, at 11 a.m. in the Sanctuary of Congregation Beth Israel, 701 Farmington Avenue, West Hartford with Rabbi Stephen Fuchs and Cantor Pamela Siskin officiating. Interment will follow in the Dubin family plot at Beth Israel Cemetery, Hartford. The family will receive relatives and friends at his home. Memorial contributions may be made to Congregation Beth Israel, 701 Farmington Ave., West Hartford 06119 or to the Dr. Nathan L. Dubin Campership Fund at the Greater Hartford Jewish Community Center, 335 Bloomfield Ave., West Hartford 06117 or to a charity of the donor’s choice. Arrangements are entrusted to Weinstein Mortuary, Hartford. For further information, directions, or to share memories of Dr. Dubin with his family please visit online at www.weinsteinmortuary.com. Pamela Dubin’s Full Notes for her Father’s Dr. N.L. Dubin’s Eulogy Countless times I’ve seen our Dad on this bima.there’s the window he donated to honor his parents memory ..there are my parent’s seats. Dad would be so glad to see all of my sisters in templeHe was a devoted religious person, son, husband, father, grandfather, uncle and brother who lead our sedars (giving everyone a part) but he was not a zealot..He had friends and colleagues of all religions and races. How do you sum up a father whose list of accomplishments could fill the Sunday Times? Actually, there’s no way, but maybe just give a glimpse………In trying to edit this last night my nephew Alex said “I understand why that’s so hard, I could talk about grandpa for hours” Don’t worry, Dad wouldn’t want thatshort and sweetand off…….I’ll try for sweet When we were kids, Dad used to take us into his office, on Saturdays to pick up the mail, but he made it an adventure instead of a chore.He’d let us into the lab and we’d play with the pink and red wax and my three older sister remember the plaster of paris, Bunsen burners and molds. He let us free in the office; trusting us, allowing us to create.He didn’t hover.. It was just enough for him to know we were there.We’d sing songs on the way down to the office.The car rides were adventures in themselves..Our father loved to speedWe’d zoom down to the office with no trafficHe loved to make us laugh flying over the speed bumps.He liked to do things fast.He had his own lab in the office for the quickest turn around..We’d watch him go from room to room in the office but he never walked, he had his own little jog.He’d see two patients at onceblue room and orange room in his newer office, that my Mom helped to design, in the Gold building, downtown …….. A perfectionist who demanded the best from himself and from those around him… He wanted things done yesterday’..Dad would inhale his dinner..down his glass of water… He’d entertain us at dinner with singing He’d rather joke or sing or recite a quote than talk about negativesHis memory was phenomenal..He would say tapping his forehead “nothing wrong up here”which was true..he was “sharp as a tack” with a remarkable memory always.He would tell us how in college and dental/med school he would prepare for exams by simply memorizing whole texts. Years later he could still recite whole passages from school and from shows.We heard lots of Yiddish phrases like “en dred mina gelt”.He’d tease us, when we’d say “Daaaad”he’d say “he just left”..Daddy would make us giggle, by flexing his muscles and would cheer us up by singing………Dubin would catch your eye with a twinkle.and a smile.and say “Think positive”.. Our father always had a dynamically charming personality……….He loved to perform..in fact, he played Groucho Marx in my grade school parent’s night play..a perfect part..lots of fun and dressed to the hilt..Dad was known for his classy stylea real gent’a “Dapper Dan” as my sister calls him..I used to love to watch him shavehe’d puff out his cheeks and make a show of it…….put on aftershave, polish his shoes , wear a suit (vests were rare having gone through four girls nabbing them during our teenage years…) his fresh pocket handkerchief, Rotary pin, Shriners ring and of course always a tiewe’d tease him about that..he’d wear a tie on the weekends when we were young (always ready in case he needed to get to the hospital) I think he took off his jacket thoughWhen he’d take his girls ice skating or sledding or to play tennis or swimAnd, especially when he played golf with his buddies on Saturdays at The Club.Tumblebrookwhere he won championships.Our parents would round out the weekend with Friday night dinner, the symphony, or theatre or the Atheneum or the Bushnell or the ballet or just go out to a party for dancing on Saturday nightsDads hair slicked back (He had beautiful hairthat evolved into gorgeous white hair..a full head even today) and the two of them dressed to the nines’ .sometimes my dad in a top hat..both of them smelled so good and looked so glamorous.they were true movie stars to me…… It was important to Dad to look ones best..He cared a lot about that..physical beauty.of course, look at our Momand he expected that of the rest of us….Although, he like to go out on the town, our Dad loved to be at homeHe had exquisite taste in art and was a true man of cultureA Cadillac always……Even his handwriting was a work of art……..amazing for a doctor……. He relished in the lilies of the valley and lilacs when they’d return each year, delighted in the colors of the trees in the fall and always commented on beautiful sights. Even last week he was admiring some flowers my Mom had gotten and talked about the beauty of the boats going by outside the apartment down south.Dad loved Hartford and was committed to helping the communityI don’t think we ever heard him say no to a charity or someone who needed help. Back in the office (where so much of his life happened.) He’d be fitting people in to his overloaded schedule who were in pain..doing work for people in need .We all heard him say numerous times “Don’t worry about it, you’ll pay it back when you can” “Doc can you fix it?” “Shew ure” He is famous for his deeds..One time when I was up for jury duty, the judge heard my name and asked whether Nat Dubin was my father..When I said “yes!”, he stopped the proceedings..and told me that he had to excuse me because he knew my fatherBut, what the judge wanted me and the whole courtroom to know was what a wonderful and generous man my father wasHow he helped him to become a judge..Everyone, including the guy on trial, was smiling when he finishedI’m told “you can tell the true worth of a person by the way they treat people who can do them absolutely no good”..N.L.D. had a smile and an endearing greeting for everyone; Dear’, Sweetheart’, Beautiful’, Honey’, with special nicknames for his family and friends and having four daughters, some especially good ones for the guys that came in and out of our house ….. Even with 5 women and except on rare occasions, the animals were all female, our Dad held his own……A huge persona with very strong opinions and unique traits….. …Dubin continues to be a larger than life energy..We still hear stories about how he was the sweetest man’, what a great smile’.He didn’t need people to know that either..For example, he was, a Justice of the Peace and would have people donate his fee to charity..Our Dad’s generosity was enormous.He never begrudged us anything but taught us how to “turn out the lights when you leave the room”..Education was expected and there was never any financial question about it. Because to our Dad, it was vital to have a good education.Our father worked his way up”pulled himself up by his bootstraps”. Dad was dedicated to his profession and was of the school when a doctor cared about the patient and not just how many people he could see in an hour.He took on cases no one else would takea hero in that regard.the risks were higher.no matter the backlasha class actEndless years of standing dentistry took their toll on his body.He didn’t complain though when people would call……… Even if he was in pain, he’d answer the phone “hedo” as if everything was fine..When he broke his wrist, he didn’t have them put it back in place because it made his hands stronger.better for dentistry My Dad’s hands. strong big hands.his fingers were two of mine..but he had the lightest touch.People said he had golden’ hands…..His dexterity was unchallengedMom asked him once “how can you operate with such wide fingers?’ and he said ” You operate with your head not your hands”.I had the honor of being with my father when he died holding one of those amazing hands, and I can tell you he died with dignity…….the way he lived his life.The last connection I had with my Dad he gave me a smile. Back to the office.All four of us, his daughters worked in the office as an assistant and receptionist…..Our father had a quote that stood in his office.. “The secret of happiness is found not in doing what one likes, but in liking what one has to do”. My Dad who gave up so much for us, learned to love his work. He’d teach us that what he used in the office were not “tools” but “instruments his work became his orchestra I lasted a summer and here and theregetting up a 4:45AM being in the office by 5:45 and getting done at 3:45..Dad didn’t even take a lunch hour, except on Mondays for Rotary, and then he would sneak out before the speaker because he had patients waiting. ..We used to set his big breakfast bowl out every night and his Total No matter the weather, our Dad never missed a day of work……….He’d be gone before we went to school…. When I worked there I’d come home and want to go right to sleep..his energy and dedication was endless….. After my Dad retired, in the last 8 yearshe stayed for the speaker at Rotarycontinuing to help them…ever increasing Rotary’s record of recruiting new members…… Dad really missed his office, but people would still call Dr. Dubin for advice and to say how irreplaceable he wasHe’d still pay bills the day they came in, was still interested in politics, still cheered on the Red Sox (finally to victory), still exercised putting up his dukes’ and doing his oven version of Tae Bo, and still was always sure to let us know daily whether the stock market was up or down, still sure to let us know he loved us. Dad continued to love to read….He read Les Miserables when he was young and Harry Potter recently.and related to them both very positivelyWe’re sure he could relate to the main character’s struggles the triumph from rags to riches and their intentions to fight to do the right thingHe was always there’.We’d play three handed bridge and Casino and Gin rummy.he loved to win.a big smile would come across his face.He’d watch his programs..Ruekeyser, Capital Gang and CNN….He always wanted to “find out what’s going on in the world”.. Breakfast was his favorite mealafter so many decades of cereal..he’d have egg, toast, oatmeal, grapefruit, coffee..And Dad would still on occasion, make his weekend specialty of salami and eggs for us…always sneaking some food to the animals.…….And he’d ask all of us…….. “When are you coming home?????????” …………. He was so proud of the family… and loyal His family: My dad worked so hard to provide for us and for all of his older brothers and sisters, 7 of them. Although he was the youngest, the baby’, I watched him take care of each of them..lose one after the other….he was always concerned to do the right thing by them devoted to our family ..His mother died when he was only 14 and father in his 20’s.he adored themHe honored them in many ways and he supported us in the best way he knew how. Daddy had my picture/business cards in every pocket, the best manager……proud of all of us but not boastful….Dad is also a father figure and mentor to so many people.he had friends of all ages……including his grandchildren……….you couldn’t ask for a more loyal friend…….. He loved Halloween.He’d always put on his soldier mask when the kids came to the doorhe’d love to see their costumes and even this last year would wait there with excitementHe was a kid himself in that way.People are always asking how old my dad is.I don’t know.I do know he was ageless.. a mixture of a father and grandfather and friendHe married later in life..but he looked much youngerJust recently, he was talking about some old lady’ over thereand telling me about old man Peterson’, who threw him a party when he got home from the war.Daddy never thought of himself as oldbecause he was “young at heart” He had a big heartHe was a REAL DADDY He loved animals.only a couple of weeks ago we were talking about his dog “Beauty” who used to wait for him outside of school and carry his books home for him.We had ceremonies for all our animals that died.in the animal cemetery..He’d say the blessing over them in Hebrew.When my cat died suddenly the week before Dad, he consoled me with one of his many moments of quoting advice putting his arms around me..”Don’t worry honey, the pain will get easier in time” Our Dad was full of advice in quotes..”Accentuate the positive” “Forget about it, it’s in the past”, he would say, wanting us to “focus on the positive” “Do the best you can”.”Everything works out for the better somehow”..”Climb though the rocks be rugged”..”One day I’m Going to that undiscovered country from whence no traveler ever returnith” He taught us so much along with our Mom, whom he adored. He always wanted to know where she was at every moment He was always singing to her..”I want a girl just like the girl that married dear old dad”.….”Someday you’ll want me to want you to want me” …”Embraceable you”…. “When your old and gray dear” .Dad always wore a pocket watch but he never wore a wrist watch. That was until my Mom gave him a watch for his birthday with a picture of her on the face, which he has on to this day,.Dad was always early, Mom always late….. Dad cold, Mom hot..Dad air off, Mom windows open..Mom’s favorite color is blue, Dad’s redMom running around helping everyone…..Dad always there waiting.. “I’m listening” ..Dad knew what he wanted after glancing at the menu… something well done and right away..and Mom would linger interested in all the items.They reminded me at times of Lucy and Ricky Ricardo(Although, our Mom was content to be our Dad’s audience…..he was the performer…except when it came to our home movies, he was always the cameraman) Dad had that musical flare and hot quick temper and slicked back hair.and handsome..A devoted coupleI know he’s waiting for our Mom with a tux or better yet a suit and tie A song he was singing a lot even last weekacting it out with his special expressions and intonations.that seems to sum up his out look was. “Life is play and we all play a part, the lover, the dreamer, the clown. The Dreamer and Lover are always in tears, but the clown he spreads sunshine around. The life with a smile is the life worthwhile, so clown till the curtain comes down..Even though you’re only make believing laugh, clown, laugh! Even though something inside is grieving Laugh, clown, laugh! Don’t let your heart grow too mellow Just be a real Punchinello, fellow. You’re supposed to brighten up a place and laugh, clown, laugh! Paint a lot of smiles around your face and laugh, clown, don’t frown. Dressed in your best coloured humour, Laugh clown laugh!” “I have to remind myself that some birds aren’t meant to be caged. Their feathers are just too bright. And when they fly away, the part of you that knows it was a sin to lock them up does rejoice. Still, the place you live in is that much more drab and empty that they’re gone. I guess I just miss my friend.” So Dad, “I’ll be seeing you in all the old familiar places that this heart of mine embraces all day through..In every lovely summer’s day, In everything that’s light and gay, I’ll always think of you that way.” “I’ll find you in the mornin’ sun and when the night is new, I’ll be looking at the moon but I’ll be seeing you.” Dad looked at the stock page and the obituary page every morning..He used to kibbutz he was making sure he wasn’t there..This week his name, Dr. Nathan Lewis Dubin graced those pages with class. What a gift my father gave us How many children can prepare a eulogy about a parent and end up singing? I’d like to conclude with you hearing a recording of my dad singing some of the songs he loved recorded only a few years agoso you will imagine what his younger voice was like..his still wonderful rich and melodic and unique voice.. I’d like you to remember our Dad singing, and dancing with a top hat and tails.smiling.We’ll MISS him and we will ALWAYS LOVE himand carry him in OUR HEARTS and OUR SMILES ”Maestro…………” [Play medley of Dad singing]