David M. Rubenstein

We are devastated to announce the passing of David Mark Rubenstein, on February 8th in Los Angeles, California, after a two-year long battle with a particularly rare and aggressive form of cancer. It is said that “All people die, but not all people live.” David\'s life was a testament to living fully and abundantly, seizing every moment, and packing so much life into his fifty-nine years, having a knack for finding the extraordinary in the ordinary. He traveled the globe, raced cars, played competitive tennis, enjoyed concerts, and collected hugely expensive wine and rare liquors, vinyl recordings and audio equipment (all of which he got a “great deal” on). He had a fetish for web-enabled gadgets and a propensity to make everything more complex than it had to be, likely by design. While it is true that David’s parties were legendary, he was happiest when friends and family crowded around his kitchen table or one-of-a-kind barbeque. He worked in a profession he loved for nearly 30 years, arranging high-end mortgages for established Los Angelenos, as a Vice President of some of the nation’s largest banks. He was a self-made man who got to where he was through his own hard work, perseverance, signature style and natural ingenuity. David made friends and helped people wherever life took him. He was a man of faith who greatly enjoyed his monthly get-togethers with his Jewish bros; never forgoing an opportunity to be more introspective as a means by which to become a better version of himself. He was a sweet, compassionate, and honest gentleman; a man of integrity and strong moral principles who positively impacted the lives of so many. These are some of the qualities that attracted Rebecca, the love of his life, to him, almost exactly seven years ago. Very happily married just a short two years, they were enjoying their lives together when David’s cancer diagnosis changed everything. From the beginning, David put one foot in front of the other, battling what he knew from the start was a difficult type of cancer. Once again, he studied his disease, became a knowledgeable advocate for himself, sought the “best tools for the job” and moved forward with the grace, dignity, integrity, and courage that were his hallmark, never allowing his disease to interfere with what he viewed as his responsibility to continue to be a good dad, father-in-law, son, brother, grandfather and husband to Andrew, Sydney, Kyle, Reney, Dana, Aspen and Rebecca …and a friend to legions. At the end, he would have been overwhelmed by the dozens and dozens of close friends who came to see him to say goodbye … and equally disappointed with the Dodge Caravan hatchback that took him from his home, preferring a Rolls, Bentley or at least a Cadillac…oy. Services for David will be held on Tuesday February 13th at 2:30 PM at Mount Sinai Simi Valley, where he will be interned in Rebecca’s Garden, as it should be. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the David Rubenstein Memorial Fund to help advance the ground-breaking clinical cancer research that fuels breakthroughs in treatments and cures. See www.PhaseOneFoundation.org/Rubenstein-Memorial