LIVING HISTORY
53
sat back in his seat as the train started moving again. He was
heading home now with a fantastic tale to share with his family
in Cocoa. Rubin furthermore had the knowledge he had
made a major contribution to his new homeland by keeping
his country’s secrets safe.
Rubin completed his military service with the 156th Depot
Brigade on Dec.12, 1918, and returned home. Rubin and his
brother, Isadore Rubin, opened a dry goods store in Cocoa.
After a few years, Rubin moved with his wife and young
children to Fort Pierce and opened another store in 1927 on
Second Street. He purchased and altered the Holtsberg’s dry
goods store, making it a junior department store. The department
store concept was developed and expanded in both
locations. This friendly, customer-oriented store was known
as Rubin Bros. Dept. Store, carrying a variety of
soft-goods and serving Fort Pierce for years.
He continued as a businessman for decades,
but also served his community through many
different civic organizations, such as president
of the Chamber of Commerce, head of the Elks
Club, president of Rotary Club and commander
of American Legion Post, until his death on
Aug. 10, 1972.
Rubin was generous with his time and
money, helping to establish the Fort Pierce Memorial
Hospital, forever mindful of the opportunities
afforded him in the United States. Proof of
his strong character was first exhibited so many
decades earlier on a train in June 1918, for which
his country was grateful then and now.
About the writer
Alice L. Luckhardt of Stuart, a former teacher,
has worked for years in historical and genealogical
research and writing. She has published articles in
a variety of magazines and has written three books:
“Legends - Family Stories and Myths,” “The Invincible
Alice” and “O. B. Padgett - A Florida Son,”
published with Lulu Publishing of N. C.
Ralph Rubin’s sons, Arthur, left, and Bernard, both served in the military during World War II.