Aaron Lubin's only regret is not going to the circus | The Arkansas Democratic Gazette

Every school needs an Aaron Lubin, or so says the former principal of a school where Lubin is a frequent defender.

“Everyone needs a mentor. Everyone deserves a Mr. Lubin,” says Felicia Hobbs, who retired as principal of Little Rock's Gibbs Magnet Elementary School in 2016. “He m “Helped me overcome difficulties and gave me confidence, and he would bring all kinds of resources to our school – not just materials, but also human resources.”

Lubin, 80, began volunteering at Gibbs more than 28 years ago.

“They call me ambassador,” he said.

Tina Greenwood “inherited” Lubin when she was hired as principal after Hobbs retired.

“He greeted me at the door,” Greenwood says. “He was there, asking me what I needed and what he could do.”

Lubin started a business, Executive Recruiters Agency, in 1974, shortly after arriving in Little Rock. He used his professional know-how to guide Hobbs and Greenwood in managing personnel and other issues at Gibbs.

“He connected us with the Rotary Club, and they are supposed to start a tutoring program in the fall, where they will work with kindergartners, first graders and second graders who are not at the level school, because, you know that under the LEARNS Act, if they have not reached grade level in third grade, they will have to repeat the grade,” explains Greenwood de Lubin, former president of Rotary Club 99.

Her volunteer role covers a myriad of tasks. He works one-on-one with students in reading and math, and several years ago he helped lobby city officials to change traffic patterns in front of the school, making so that the street in front of the school is transformed into a single means of collection. and a safer deposit for children.

“We ask ourselves, 'What can we do to make this school better?' and “What little thing can we do to maybe help a student if they really can't do it?” he says. “The other thing we focus a lot on is making them better citizens.”

To this end, he works with students to resolve conflicts and build relationships within their community.

Lubin, who has visited 120 countries so far, was drawn to the small school because of its focus on international studies. He shares his experiences with students and, through his involvement with organizations like Global Ties, he has also attracted various international visitors.

Lubin grew up in University City, Missouri, the son of a Russian immigrant who worked as an electrician. His neighborhood was populated by workers from various countries, which made him appreciate both hard work and cultural diversity.

He went to the University of Illinois at Chicago his freshman year and transferred as a sophomore to St. Louis University.

“I decided to go to college in California and applied. I didn't even tell my parents,” he says. “I told them, once I was accepted, that I was going to go to Long Beach.”

He remained in California after earning a bachelor's degree in sociology from California State University. To finance his college education—and to support himself afterward—he waited tables, worked as a short-order cook, umpired baseball games, and painted the edges of houses in Trousdale Estates in Beverly Hills.

“I worked in the fashion industry,” he says. “We did fashion publications. I don't know if you've heard of Women's Wear Daily? It's kind of their bible. Our circulation was bigger than theirs on the West Coast.”

Lubin wrote copy for the publication, sold advertisements, and managed marketing and promotions. He also hosted a sports radio show and worked as an agent representing celebrities like Mickey Rooney, Frankie Laine, Billy Eckstine, Rosie Greer and the Kittens and The Ink Spots.

In the 1970s, he visited friends who were studying at the University of Arkansas in Little Rock.

“Los Angeles was getting a little crowded,” he says. “I didn't really know many people here, but it seemed like a good place to do business. I can't believe we're here, 50 years later.”

Of course, he met many people during this time.

“I've had a lot of adventures. I've had a lot of great experiences, I have a lovely wife, and I've had a lot of different relationships with the people I've met,” says Lubin, known for his talent for remembering details of everyone he meets. “I've helped a lot of people. I still help people, often on a voluntary basis. It's just part of me.”

Lubin and his wife, Sandie, often visit Palm Springs, California, and while there, they serve meals at senior centers and homeless shelters.

He also enjoyed visiting underdeveloped regions around the world, sometimes sleeping on the ground in places without running water and, in Senegal, waking up each morning to the sound of a goat bleating.

“At 80, I’m not as adventurous, but I still enjoy being among people and exploring where they are,” he says.

He regrets having passed up an opportunity to work as an entertainer for the Ringling Brothers circus.

“What stories would I have had about working in a circus? Can you imagine the characters?” he says. “Even if it had only lasted a year, it would have been an experience.”

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