Some of my favorite times with Stanley Rubin had to do with his responses to questions about history, language, Judaism and Christianity, and North Fork families. The Pogrom at Kishinev, Archduke Ferdinand’s last words, the roots of the Cyrillic language were among the great range of topics I asked him about. Remarkably, he was able to answer so easily and readily, always eager to share his knowledge. And, then there were the jokes.

Through a difficult last few years, I never heard a word of complaint. When asked how he was, his default response was predictably, “In my usual good health.” I will miss his knowledge, spirit and humor.

—Miriam Gabriel