Lillian Rabbin

Lillian Rabbin, 96, a resident of Newtown for four decades, died peacefully in her sleep on April 5 in the home of friends.

Mrs Rabbin, known to most as Lil, was born on the Lower East Side of New York City on January 20, 1907. She was one of five children of Abraham and Fanny Block, and she was the last living of her siblings Beatrice, Ann, Julius, and Irving, a prominent New Deal artist. The Blocks were a very close family.

As a child, she attended New York public schools, after which she went to work against her father’s wishes for a certified public accountant, Manes Rabbin.

Soon, however, Mr Rabbin decided he would rather she be his wife than his employee. The couple lived in Brooklyn and Queens and before purchasing land in rural Sandy Hook and building a home. Later Mr and Mrs Rabbin moved to an antique colonial house at 59 Main Street, where she continued to reside some 20 years after his death.

For the last two years of her life, Mrs Rabbin was lovingly cared for by the Fiala family of Main Street. Right up until the end, Mrs Rabbin continued to read The New York Times daily, and she was always interested in discussing world events and listening to other people’s opinions.

“She liked to have a lot of people to gab with,” said her niece Florence Shapiro, of Chapel Hill, N.C. “She had a special talent for having friends of all ages, and she was a wonderful storyteller. Her great art was herself.”

Mrs Rabbin is survived by her son Harvey Rabbin, a retired literature professor now living in France, several nieces and nephews, and many friends in Newtown.

A memorial service will be held in May.

The Newtown Bee        April 25, 2003