Howard J. Rubenstein (February 3, 1932[1] – December 29, 2020) was an American lawyer and public relations expert. Rudolph Giuliani called him "the dean of damage control".[2] He began his PR practice from his parents' kitchen and it grew to become the most influential public relations organization in New York City. His clients included the New York Yankees, News Corporation, Columbia University, the New York Philharmonic, and The Metropolitan Opera.
Early life[edit]
Rubenstein grew up in a Jewish-American household in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, on 74th St. near Bay Parkway with an older sister, June.[3] His mother, Ada, an immigrant from Russia when she was nine, was a homemaker, and his father, Sam,[4] was a crime reporter for the Herald Tribune.[5][3] He graduated from Midwood High School in Brooklyn,[6] and then from the University of Pennsylvania Phi Beta Kappa in 1953 with a degree in economics.[5] He then attended Harvard Law School, but dropped out partway through the first semester.[5]
Rubinstein began writing press releases for a Brooklyn nursing home, the Menorah Home and Hospital for the Aged and Infirm, after his father introduced him to some officials at the home.[2][5][7] Initially he worked out of his parents' kitchen, but later moved out after his parents refused to answer the phone saying "Rubenstein Associates".[8]
Business grew quickly; as Rubenstein later said, "I was the only Democratic press agent in Brooklyn, so the politicians started coming to me".[5] He enrolled in St. John's University Law School to take night classes, and graduated in 1959 first in his class.[2][5] He then took a job as an assistant counsel to the House Judiciary Committee, but quit after six months.[5]
Rubinstein was the president and founder of Rubenstein Associates, which has been described as the most influential public relations organization in New York City.[7] It has two affiliates: Rubenstein Public Relations and Rubenstein Communications, Inc.[3] The firm was founded in 1954. His more notable clients included many of New York's iconic organizations including: The New York Yankees,[9] News Corporation,[3] Columbia University,[7] New York Philharmonic,[3] Sarah – Duchess of York, Rupert Murdoch since 1976,[3][10] both Fred Trump and Donald Trump since 1973,[3] and The Metropolitan Opera.[3]
Rubinstein was also instrumental in making the New York City Marathon the world's largest and one of the World Marathon Majors.[11]
Rubinstein was described by Archie Obrien of Everything PR as "a PR genius" and "public relations royalty".[10][12]
Personal life[edit]
In 1959, Rubenstein married Amy Forman, whose family had purchased the Peter Luger Steak House in 1950.[3] They had a daughter, Roni (born 1961), and three sons, David (1962–1971), Richard (born 1965), and Steven (born 1969).[3] Roni is a former district attorney.[3] Richard works for Rubenstein Public Relations and has Donald Trump as one of his clients.[3] Steven heads Rubenstein Communications. Inc. and has Amazon.com as one of his clients.[3]
Rubenstein died on December 29, 2020, at age 88.[13]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Howard_J._Rubenstein
