Murray Rubinstein, Professor of Asian History, 1942-2026

Professor Rubinstein was a resident of Putnam Valley, NY and New York City.

Murray Rubinstein, who devoted four decades to educating generations of students as a beloved professor at Baruch College of the City University of New York passed away on February 6, 2026, at the age of 83. Born on October 12, 1942 in New York City, the eldest son of Leon Rubinstein and Ruth ( née Kurtz), he dedicated his career to teaching Asian history, earning recognition worldwide as a Taiwan expert whose lectures and scholarship resonated across continents.

Professor Rubinstein received his PhD in East Asian History and Modern European History from New York University. He was a recipient of a Fulbright Scholarship in Taiwan and lived there along with his family from 1979-1980.

An accomplished author and editor, he contributed numerous volumes to the M.E. Sharpe East Asia series, Routledge Press, numerous journals, and professional conferences enriching readers with thoughtful scholarship and accessible insight.

In addition he was Senior Research Scholar at the Weatherhead East Asia Institute at Columbia University and a member of the greater Columbia community serving as a Visiting Professor in the 2010–2011 academic year and as a dedicated member and chair of the Modern China Seminar, among other roles.

Murray leaves his wife, Arlene (née Benjamin) and his children, Steven, Robert and wife Jen, grandchildren Connor and Ben, and brothers Norman and Neil. He will be remembered as a loving husband, brother, father and grandfather as well as for his scholarly rigor, generous mentorship, and enduring curiosity about the past. His passion for history inspired students and colleagues alike, and his legacy will continue to guide and inform generations to come.