Obituary: Serene Rubin, Worked in Judaic and Near Eastern Studies

Serene Werner Rubin, 81, of Amherst, a former staff associate in Judaic and Near Eastern studies, died May 18.

Born Jan. 21, 1937 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, she earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Pittsburgh and a Master of Science in education from the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, where she also pursued a Ph.D.

From 1959-80 she taught in public and private schools and worked in academic administration. She orchestrated grants in the areas of anti-racism and substance abuse prevention. In 1987 she joined UMass Amherst, working in Judaic and Near Eastern studies full-time until 1988 and then part-time until 1990.

She later became administrative director of the UMass Hillel House.

Most recently, she served as director of Gan Keshet preschool at Northampton's Congregation B'nai Israel.

She was the widow of Dr. Emanuel Rubin, her husband of 53 years. She is survived by Deena Rubin of Amherst; Faith Rubin of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin; and Jonathan Rubin of Santa Cruz, California.