Eric C. Rubin

Our thoughts and prayers are with Alex, Randy and their entire family during this time of great loss and sadness.

As so many are, I am shocked and saddened by the sudden loss of Eric. I have worked with Eric for over 20 years, and have watched him grow as a businessman and a person. I have so many memories that I will cherish and remember forever. I share in your sorrow and I hope you take comfort in knowing he loved you with all his heart.

On behalf of the Board, staff and students of AALEAD, I would like to express our deep condolences to Martha and her children on the loss of Eric. May his memory and life be an everlasting source of strength and joy to his loved ones.

Eric was a treasure, a joy to know, a blessing to have been part of our lives. We are proud to call him friend. We love you Martha. God Bless you!

We have all lost a wonderful friend and business associate. Eric created such enthusiasm and coupled that with a fervent business mind. My thoughts and prayers with Martha and the family.

On a chilly sunny December day last year all of us at Madison Retail Group went to OceanAire for a celebratory Christmas lunch. We laughed and joked and even played a game where we wrote on a piece of paper what we thought of a co-worker. Afterwards we read the notes out loud and guessed who that note was about. Eric was my person. I wrote what immediate came to mind: blue sky, sunshine, happiness. And everyone knew it was Eric. This is exactly how we will all remember him: a vivacious guy who loved life, family, friends, and what he did. He believed in making a world a better place, through little and big things that touched all of us; through his life and his work he made Washington, DC a better place! He taught me the business, how to see opportunities where others saw little potential; how to engage and energize a team on a project; how to make a real estate transaction not just a deal, but an event that changes a building, a neighborhood, a city. I will be eternally grateful for this life lesson. And will miss the happiness and sunshine that Eric brought to the office every day. With all my love to Erics family and friends, Anastasia.

So full of life and humor. My hearfelt condolences to his colleagues and most particularly to Martha and your two beautiful children.

My condolences to Alex & Randy and the Rubin & Blue families in this difficult time. I hope the current tears of pain evolve to become tears of laughter remembering wonderful memories of time spent with Eric.

Eric, I met you on March 5, 1990, my first day at Smithy Braedon, and I learned you’d be my office mate. Through the 20 intervening years, we shared great memories, professional and personal. You watched me marry Kim, I saw you marry Martha. We learned together the beauty and joy in little girls and a sweet boy. And with our great friends at Smithy and Madison, we traveled roads together, and watched the fruits of our labor become reality. I’ll remember you for your love of Oklahoma football and Tony Montana, your uber-competitive streak, your dignity, class and professionalism, and your amazing memory. You were taken from us much too soon, yet your legacy is all around us, in the real estate landscape, and most importantly your beautiful family. Thanks for those 20 years, my friend.

Wow, the great memories of Eric. Always so supportive of the under dogs like me. A great role model and friend and a great family growing up in Tulsa. Eric has always and will always be in my heart. It is a nice warm feeling to think of Eric. He will be missed. My prayers to his family who I do not know but am sure are as warm and loving as Eric. Mr. A. Rubin, you should be proud of the great son you raised. With love and prayers to all, David Moser.

Even in such a tragically short life, Eric left his mark on all of us and his beloved adopted city of Washington. Just travel down any significant avenue or street to see Eric’s work. His passion for the transaction was so real and intense. One of his greatest strengths was his love of bringing people together. Eric on your side was a tremendous advantage for he was always thinking of you, always supporting you, and always making life a little better. Eric and I grew up together at Smithy Braedon, then The Retail Group and eventually Madison Retail Group. We loved working with him, and tapping into his energy, his creativity, and his true integrity. Eric left a mark on me. He made me better and touched my life in such a wonderful way. Eric’s greatest mark was his dedication to his wonderful family. He loved Martha and his two beautiful children more than anyone can imagine. He was always so proud of Martha and her many accomplishments. His eyes just sparkled when he spoke of Maddy and Alex. Eric’s light will always shine through them. May he know how much we loved him and how much he meant to so many people and the City of Washington.

I am deeply saddened. I have wonderful memories of the time I spent with Eric during our junior high and high school years and the positive attitude that he shared with us all. My deepest condolences to all of his loved ones.

I am heartbroken for the Rubin and Blue families. I attended Edison Junior and Senior High with Eric in Tulsa, and I remember him as always having a smile on his face. Such a nice guy. “The Rube”! I ran into Eric a few times over the past 20 years here in the DC area. We would always say we should get our families together, but life and busy schedules got in the way, and I truly regret not getting to know his wife and children. Eric and his family will be in my prayers. Rest in Peace, Eric.

Martha-we wish we were with you today to share our love in person. Know that our prayers are with you and that you have the love and support of the extended Shasta Lane/King Owen Court/Sunbury Lane family.

I have had the great fortune to work closely with Eric and to call him a good friend for the last several years. Always the eternal optimist, Eric applied his considerable intelligence, tremedous creativity and winning attitude to bring significant neighborhod changing retailers to DC. Perhaps most importantly, he cared deeply about people and showed it everyday. Eric always found the time, despite an incredibly hectic schedule and important family obligations to call, ask how I was doing (professionally and personally) and to offer to help in any way he could. Eric was the consummate professional, a talented businessman, wonderful family man and true friend. You will be greatly missed and may God speed you on your journey. My heartfelt sympathies go out to Martha, Madeleine and Alexander.

To Martha and family and Eric’s many friends…I met Eric during the early days of his DC career, had the pleasure of doing a couple deals with him, and watched him grow up in the business, marry Martha and have two children. Among the many things I remember about Eric, what truly stands out was his never-ending positive demeanor, his love of family and people, and the everyday friendliness and honesty that always came through in every conversation. When the Boomer Sooners play in the Red River Shootout, I’ll always think of Eric. Eric you were taken from us and your family way too early, and you will be sorely missed. Tom and Julie and McCarty

How very sad I am to hear of your loss. I know your memories for Eric will be of how his life made a difference in yours. He was taken way to quickly but his memory will live on. My love, thoughts and prayers to Alex, Randy, Arthur, Martha and family may you find peace and comfort.

What great memories my wife and I have of Eric. We formed a friendship with Eric while attending The University of Oklahoma. “Rube” was an incredible ATO pledge brother that keep our class focused and entertained. We have all lost not only a great man but a great friend as well. We are so sorry for your loss and will keep you in our prayers.

My condolences go out to the family. Eric was a truly great guy.

I was fresh out of college when Eric took me under his wing at Madison Retail Group teaching me everything he possibly could about real estate. I would spend hours with Eric touring retailers around the city sitting quietly in the back seat soaking up everything I could. I would tell people that he was like a father to me while we worked together, always looking out for me and always guiding me in the right direction. It is because of Eric that I am where I am today. My favorite memory of Eric is when I was getting ready to propose to my wife. Lots of people used to tell me to wait, that I was too young too get married. It was always Eric who would tell me the joys of marriage and how much he loved being a husband. He was so excited for me that he even offered to help pay for the ring because he wanted Leslie to have the best. The morning before I proposed I rushed into Eric’s office with nervous excitment and showed him the ring. He was so proud and excited for me. On the other hand I was shaking with nervs and could hardly sit still. I turned to Eric for a calming voice to relax me and give me the motivation I needed. He then proceded to make me run up and down the hallway and do push-ups in his off to shake off the nervous energy. Every thing went perfectly just as planned. This is just one of many fond memories I will always have of Eric. I doubt there will ever be a time when I go for a walk through Georgetown or have a drink in the East End when these wonderful memories of Eric won’t come back. And Eric, just for you, the drink will be a seabreeze.

It was a privilege and an honor to know Eric. He was an amazing advocate and trusted advisor. Doing business with him felt like spending time with a friend, and that is exactly how we thought of him. His passing was devastating to us on a very personal level and our hearts go out to everyone in his family. We will always remember him vividly and will always give him the credit that is due for any success we may have in the future. The real successes in life are not in business, of course. They are in having the good fortune to count people of Eric’s character among one’s friends and associates. We are deeply grateful to him and we will miss him dearly.

I worked with Eric at Smithy Braedon after graduating from college. Those were some crazy fun times….I haven’t spoken to Eric in years but kept track of his progress through mutual friends and was so saddened to hear of his passing. My thoughts and prayers go out to all of his family and friends.

To the entire Rubin famiy I am so saddened by your loss. I knew Eric through my mom’s friendship with his family. One of my favorite memories was the time we took our mother’s to New York City over Easter vacation. We decided that the girls all had to have Easter hats and have lunch at Tavern on the Green. Eric was a saint watching us try on every hat at Macy’s but when he escorted us to lunch he was very proud to be the date of three gorgeous gals. We had a fantastic time and I knew then that we had alot in common…we both loved our mothers dearly. Martha, I feel so sad for your loss. I wish I could be there for you. Alex, I know your heart is breaking as I know that you loved Eric very much. Arthur, you had a wonderful son and that he made you proud everyday. My love and prayers are with you during this sad time.

I was a year behind Eric at Edison, but remember his charismatic smile. My condolences go to his family. I know this is a tremendous loss to you and to all who knew him. –Lynn Tegeler

I met Eric early in my career (1990) at the Rouse Company. Eric was with Smithy B. and was representing coffee operators. I was the GM of the Shops at National Place /Press. What I remember is how much a gentle person he was with me. This continued as we met during my and his career. Eric never changed. His grace and knowlege, his gentle character put him at the top of his trade. More importantly, people trusted Eric and he held their trust as important. I will miss Eric greatly. But, I know where he is..with our Lord praying for and still loving his family & friends ..just on the other side of the veil – not far away. Peace to you Eric my friend, I know I will see you again and until then… Jamie

Martha, I was heartbroken to hear of Eric’s death. In addition to being a great guy, he was a generous friend to the city and cared deeply about its revitalization. He was always ready to give his time, expertise, and advice to help improve the quality of our streets, sidewalks, retail stores, and city life. He will be sorely missed. My deepest sympathies to you and your entire family.

Nothing but great memories of “the Rube”. He was one of the few that could be a guy’s guy and a girl’s guy. Always the gentleman, my symapthy to his family.

I just learned the tragic news of Eric’s passing. As many have already said, my husband and I both feel strongly that Eric has left a part of himself not only in the commercial real estate landscape of the Washington, D.C. market but in all of us that had the opportunity to know him, work with him and call him not only a colleague but friend. When I think of Eric, I remember the days when we were both single. He was so happy for me when I met and married my husband, John and took interest in every time we were blessed with another child including the adoption of our son. I still remember telling him the story and he shared the story of his brother who also is adopted. I also remember how much he wanted to find his soulmate and life partner and I have no doubt that he did with his wife, Martha. It was very obvious that he so loved Martha. Over the years we shared in all of our life experiences both professionally and personally. As he became a father, it was again so obvious that he loved his children and took the responsibility seriously. I too am a better person for knowing Eric. I wish there was something we could do or say to make this less painful for his family. Please know that you will be in our constant thoughts and prayers. Rest in Peace friend and thank you!! Warmest regards, Ann Marie and John Zeaser

Martha, Maddy and Alex, we were so happy to have known Eric, a friend and a bright light in our lives; We are only sorry we did get to know him better. We enjoyed our broad ranging conversations with Eric over all kinds of topics and exploring the motivations of professional musicians. Our thoughts are with you at this difficult time and we are here for you. Craig and Andrea

Eric and I went to O.U. and even had classes together but we did not meet formally until David Matheson introduced us in Washington in 1987. We end up rooming together for 2 yrs at Ft. Bennett (now Ft. Georgetown) apartments, just behind the Key Bridge Marriott hotel. He had this old blue VW Jetta that he could barely fit in but he loved it and would get in it on Sat/Sun and simply drive around the nation’s capital…..I used to marvel and question this–“gotta get to know the area, Tim.” He always talked about “economic development” when I wanted to talk “girls”…he loved his calling of real estate. We went to the 1989 presidential inauguration together and got swearing-in tickets through Senator Nickle’s office. He used to always ask me, “Tim?! Are you WORKIN’ IT?!!” He called me his “social chairman” because I guess I generally knew what was happening party-wise during that time. He was always there for me over the years–picking me up or dropping me off at the airport…..letting me use his office or car or guest room when I was floating in and out of town….I simply trusted no one more when I came to town. He was in my wedding in 2000 and my wife Meredith and I went with them to the Black Tie & Boots inaugural party for Bush/Cheney–both Martha & Meredith looked so lovely….. Eric was was a source of strength for me when my own wife, Meredith, died suddenly the summer of 2001…… In 2003, I moved back to D.C. to work for VP Cheney and actually lived in Martha & Eric’s basement while I got settled and looked for an apartment. One funny LONG experience was when hurricane Gertrude (?) came through and we were without power for 6 days…..I have this funny picture of Eric sitting in his chair with a jambox radio in his lap–listening to the reports. We attended the inauguration of Bush/Cheney in 2004 together–reliving our experience with Bush, Sr. and not believing it was 15yrs after our first. Just before he passed, I called him randomly to say hi–there were NEVER short conversations with Eric and he was forever telling me what I should do and how I should do it! Talks were never less than 30 minutes and while we didn’t talk often, they were always rich–he was such a genuine friend and I miss him very much.