Ron Rubin, co-founder of Aikido Today Magazine, passes away

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[Garth Jones]

Sad news. Mary Heiny Sensei asked me to post this to aikiweb:

Obituary for Ronald Rubin

Ronald Rubin, co-founder of Aikido Today Magazine and Musubi Dojo passed away on October 22. At his side was his wife Susan Perry.

Ron was a Professor of Philosophy who taught at Pitzer College in the Claremont Colleges for 43 years. He and his wife Susan began their Aikido training in 1978 at a local class. They soon became members of Rod Kobayashi Sensei’s Seidokan dojo in Los Angeles. They started Musubi Dojo with several Aikido friends in 1982. As the others left, Ron and Susan continued the mission of the dojo as co-chief instructors. Ron and Susan then started Aikido Today Magazine in 1987. They were a very close team working to connect the Aikido world through publishing the magazine and by creating a large dojo to host a variety of teachers starting with Saotome and Ikeda Senseis.

Ron also wrote over 20 articles about Aikido and served as commentator for the American Philosophical Association’s Philosophy and Martial Arts. He co-edited Aikido Talks and produced 12 instructional DVDs writing and reading the narration for them.

In 2007 Ron was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer and given weeks to live. 7 years later, after enduring multiple chemo therapy treatments, he finally stopped treatment and peacefully left us. Ron said that he believed his Aikido training in how to flow Ki enabled him to deal with chemo therapy and last so long. While receiving both standard and alternative therapies he was able to continue teaching his academic and Aikido classes.

I knew Ron for nearly 30 years. He loved Osensei and Aikido. He had a brilliant mind, a shy personality and great sense of humour. He was devoted to his wife and his academic and Aikido students. He was grateful to all his teachers and for the opportunity to share what he had learned.

We miss you Ron.

Mary Heiny

[Hellis]

I am sadly shocked to hear the news of the passing of Ronald Rubin Sensei, I offer my condolences to Susan Perry and their family members and students.

I never met either Ron or Susan, but I did have the pleasure in communicating with them both over the years.

I was a fan of the magazine ` Aikido Today ` - I felt privileged to have had three articles published in AT magazine. I also contributed a small item on Kenshiro Abbe Sensei to their book ` Aikido Talks `.
My prayers are with Susan at this time.

Henry Ellis
Co-author ` Positive Aikido`
http://britishaikido.blogspot.com/

[aikishihan]

Both Ron Rubin and Susan Perry were important pioneers in attempting to preserve the Founder's message at a time of mixed passions and attitudes.

Condolences to family and supporters, and may Rubin Sensei Rest in the Peace he so richly earned.

[Janet Rosen]

Oh I'm so very sorry to read of this. The magazine Ron and Susan published did so much to present Aikido in a positive way and across doctrinal lines. My condolences to Susan Perry and to all his family, friends and students.

[crbateman]

This is very sad news. Deepest condolences. :(

[Dave Gallagher]

When I began my training I read Aikido Journal and Aikido Today Magazine and knew of Ron and Susan as publishers of it and them as Aikidoka. I still have a number of issues laying around.
I was sad to hear this news.

[Susan Dalton]

I am so sorry to hear this news. Susan and Ron sponsored me to do a "Return to Industry" my college was offering, which gave me my first chance to write about Aikido. I never met Ron or Susan in person and usually communicated with Susan, but my goodness, what a brilliant editor Ron was. He could re-situate one sentence and make an entire article come to life. My deepest sympathy to Susan and their family.

[Robert Cowham]

Sad news indeed - I enjoyed ATM immensely - my condolences.