Davidson County Chancery Court Memorial Resolution for Gary Steven “Rube” Rubenstein

Our profession, the legal profession, can be a hard one for its practitioners. Fortunately, there are those among us who find a way to practice law their entire career with a measure of kindness and a generosity of spirit. They counsel their clients to act with equanimity and fairness. They imbue even the most adversarial legal disputes with a sense of calmness. They solve problems rather than create them. They understand and embrace the importance of mentorship in their relationships with younger lawyers. Their collegiality toward fellow lawyers allows every conversation to begin and end with a smile. Above all else, their reputation for honesty and integrity earns the respect of their colleagues and the judiciary.

Known affectionately by one and all as “Rube,” he was a conversationalist of the highest order. If you were fortunate enough to run into Rube in Court waiting for the docket to be called, within seconds you were sure to be engaged in an animated and jovial conversation. His face lit up with a smile, every time, when he saw a lawyer he knew. And, rest assured, he knew almost all of them. With Rube, truly, there were no strangers, only friends he hadn’t met yet.

A New Englander through and through, Rube was born and grew up in Newton, Massachusetts, where he graduated from Newton South High School. He developed a love of all sports at an early age, but was especially fond of baseball.

The Boston Red Sox held a special place in his heart, and Rube was a devoted fan his entire life. Growing up, Rube often took the Green Line subway to Fenway Park to watch the Red Sox play. If he was away from the office playing golf, or softball, chances are, he was wearihg a Red Sox T-shirt or baseball cap.

Rube earned a B.A. from Purdue University in 1973, graduating in three years with a variety of honors and merits. He earned a J.D. from Vanderbilt University Law School in 1977. Many of Rube’s classmates at Vanderbilt University Law School became colleagues and lifelong friends after graduation, including Bill O’Bryan, Judge Mike Binkley, the late Justice Connie Clark, Chris Harris, Darrell Townsend, and many others. Rube was elected President of Vanderbilt University Law School student body and served in that capacity from 197 6 – 1977. Rube’s leadership during those formative years at Vanderbilt was a precursor to the integrity and professionalism he brought to every aspect of his legal career.

Rube worked his entire career at the law firm of Schulman, LeRoy & Bennett, where, again, he formed close friendships that lasted his entire life. According to attorney Brenda Dowdle, Rube was always kind and jovial to everyone at the office – lawyers and staff alike. She never tired of seeing Rube, on many occasions, rounding up law clerks and leaving the office in his uniform to play softball in the Nashville Bar Association softball league. Attorney Barbara Perutelli – whom Rube hired – practiced law with him for 30 years. She described him as a true and dear friend who will be missed.

Rube was a leading authority and a renowned expert in the field of landlord/tenant law. He also practiced in the fields of insurance defense and surety bond issues. Above all, Rube was a trusted advisor to all his clients, including numerous apartment management companies.

In the courtroom, Rube’s congeniality, preparedness, and legal acumen made him a favorite of the many judges before whom he appeared and tried cases. The Honorable Denise Andre, General Sessions Judge in Williamson County, presided over the last case he tried before he retired at the end of 2023. Judge Andre confirmed that Rube won his last trial. He was undoubtedly wearing his favorite tie – a gift from his daughter, Rachel, who brought it home from England more than a decade earlier. Judge Andre described Rube as “a talented, intelligent, and tenacious” litigator, further stating he was “a tireless and zealous advocate” for his clients, who “always represented [his] clients to the fullest.”

Rube’s commitment to advocacy and education extended beyond the courtroom. He was a sought-after lecturer and provided continuing education to lawyers and real estate professionals throughout Tennessee. Rube loved teaching a business law course at John A. Gupton College for more than 30 years. Rube was an active member of the Tennessee Bar Association, the Nashville Bar Association, the Williamson County Bar As.sociation, the John Marshall American Inn of Court, and the Tennessee Apartment Association.

Rube’s generosity of spirit made him an ideal mentor for younger lawyers at Shulman, LeRoy & Bennett and in courtrooms across middle Tennessee. Always quick with a kind word or a patient and thoughtful answer to a question, Rube took great pride in helping young lawyers develop their skills.

Rube was one of the founders and strongest supporters of the Nashville Bar Association softball league. As a longtime team member and third basemen for the Independents, Rube could be found summer after summer for more than 30 years on the softball fields at East Park and, later, Cleveland Street Park. A singles hitter extraordinaire, always smiling and clad in long grey pants and a Red Sox baseball cap, Rube frustrated a generation of softball pitchers (me included) with his uncanny ability to spray line drives all over the field. With colleagues John M.L. Brown, Tommy Overton, Sam Wallace, Jr., Nader Baydoun, Pete Ezell, Mac Robinson Jr., and others, Rube led the Independents to multiple tournament titles in the 1990’s/2000’s, as well as earning an “NBA All Tournament” trophy in his final season in July 2024.

As much as Rube loved to compete in the Nashville Bar Association softball league, he loved even more the camaraderie and collegiality the league engendered among its participants. For Rube, the best part of every softball game was having a beer with his opponents afterwards. Smiling and laughing, he loved to share stories about softball games in the distant past and to tell war stories about the practice of law. Softball was about friendship for Rube.

When he played in the end-of-season softball tournament last July (2024) at age 71, Rube was the oldest active player in the league. He probably had the most fun, too. Without question, the Nashville Bar Association softball league will not be the same in summers to come without Rµbe’s presence. At

Cleveland Street Park this summer (2025), he will be terribly missed by those of us who played with him, and against him, for more than three decades.

Rube is survived by his beloved wife of 40 years, Deborah Marie Shipp Rubenstein and his daughter, Rachel Rubenstein Belding; his sister, Sara Olsen; and nephews, Samuel Olsen and Andrew Olsen.

His many friends and colleagues in the Nashville Bar Association will miss his courtesy, professionalism; integrity, and sense of humor.

The Resolution

Dated this 22nd day of May, 2025.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Nashville Bar Association that today we honor the life of our brother and fellow lawyer, Gary “Rube” Rubenstein, and mourn the passing of a lawyer’s lawyer, a friend and mentor to many in our profession over a 45-year career. A loving husband to his wife of 40 years, Deborah (“Debster”) Rubenstein, and devoted father to his daughter, Rachel (“The Rach”) Rubenstein Belding.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that in accordance with a directive from the Commissioner of the Nashville Bar Association softball league, Phillip R. Newman, that the 2025 softball season will be played in honor of and dedicated to Gary “Rube” Rubenstein, in recognition of his many years of participation in and undying love for the softball league and all of his teammates and opponents and, FURTHER, that henceforth, an award, known as the Gary “Rube” Rubenstein Love of the Game Award, will be presented by the Commissioner at the end of the annual tournament to the player who best exemplifies the sportsmanship, collegiality, and love of the game for which Rube was so well known by all who crossed paths with him on the softball field every summer.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this memorial resolution be placed in the permanent records of the Chancery Court of Davidson County, Tennessee, and a copy furnished to Rube’s wife, Deb Rubenstein.

It is, therefore ORDERED and DECREED that this Memorial Resolution for Gary Steven “Rube” Rubenstein is hereby GRANTED and APPROVED for entry this the Twenty-Second Day of May, 2025.