By COLlive reporter
R’ Reuven Lipkind, a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and long-standing community member of Brooklyn’s Crown Heights neighborhood, passed away on Wednesday, 28 Shevat 5785.
He was 71.
He worked for many years as a plumber but became known in later years as the Constituent Services Director to four consecutive New York State senators representing Crown Heights, including the current New York City Mayor Eric Adams.
Mr Lipkind had had the opportunity to make many a Kiddush Hashem by serving everyone with a smile and going above and beyond.
Speaking in a live interview on GMGT Live’s “The Reset Talk Show” on Wednesday, Mayor Adams commented:
“I was just notified that a long-time civil servant and employee passed away. Reuven Lipkind, many people from the Brooklyn community. He worked in my office. He worked in Jesse Hamilton’s office. He worked with my state senate office.
“Just a real hard-working member of the Crown Heights community. And to his wife, who was also a constituent service representative. You know, my heart goes out to him and his family and all those who knew him. Reuven Lipkind, just a great, great New Yorker and great Brooklynite.”
Rabbi Eli Cohen, Executive Director of the Crown Heights Jewish Community Council (CHJCC), called into the radio show and commented: “First of all, Reuven Lipkind, you mentioned his passing. I know you worked for Jesse in the senatorial office. He was a good friend and Arna who’s still very active in the city. We work with her closely and our heart goes out to her.”
Reuven Lipkind was a board member of Frankel’s Shul on President Street in Crown Heights and served as a Gabbai there for many years. “His contributions to our community were immeasurable,” the shul wrote to COLlive.com.
Lipkind also founded the Avos Ubanim program in Crown Heights, which brought together fathers and sons for learning sessions in Torah and Chassidus. The intergenerational bonding over Torah learning had powerfully connected parents with their children.
He will be missed by many from the entire Crown Heights community and beyond, the family said.
He is survived by his wife Arna Lipkind, children Mendel Lipkind – East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania; Devorah Weprin – Columbus, Ohio; Nechama Azrak – Sheepshead Bay, New York; Chaya Lipkind – Williamsburg, New York; Esther Lipkind – N Miami Beach, Florida; Eliezer LIpkind – Crown Heights; Baruch Lipkind – New York, New York; Rachel Lipkind – Rhinebeck, New York; Shterna Lipkind and Yehuda Lipkind, both of Crown Heights; grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
LEVAYA & SHIVA
The levaya will be held on Thursday at 12:00 noon at 770 Eastern Parkway and at 1:00 PM at the Old Montefiore Cemetery in Queens.
The family will be sitting shiva at 1703 President Street (men downstairs and women upstairs).
Shacharis 9:00 AM (last day Wednesday 8:00 AM)
Mincha & Maariv b’eman 5:30/6:30 PM
Friday Mincha 2:00 PM
No visitation after 9:00 PM.
Baruch Dayan Haemes.
AUDIO:
Uncle “rubi” as we called him, welcomed my husband the first time he came for Shabbos to crown heights. He always had a smile for us. May him memory be a blessing. Baruch Dayan Haemes
Reuven was my dear friend in yeshiva for several years. He even came to my wedding in California when it wasn’t so common or easy. He was a real caring person and a real mentch. We often got together when I came to CH. BDE
Such sad news. Arna our hearts are with you. – Simcha
May R Reuven’s neshama have the HIGHEST ALIYAH, may Hashem comfort his family, & may he be REUNITED with them SPEEDILY with the IMMEDIATE revelation of MOSHIACH TZEDKEINU!!!🙏👑
I am So sorry to hear this sad news.
I and my family attended the avos ubanim in frankel’s shul for meny years and have great memories of him.
He was a very special rabbi.
And was always happy and kind to everyone he met.
I am so sorry for your loss,
we wish his family with only simchas and revealed good!
The goldstein family ❤️
We are BROKEN as we mourn the loss of a dear friend whose connection with our family goes back decades to pre-Crown Heights days.
Our hearts are with you at this most difficult time, dear Arna!
We cry out to Hashem Yisborach to please, please send the Geulah Shleimah NOW!
The Metal Family
Reuven was a real mensch. A very caring person who truly cared and loved all. Always a smile. His work and care for Frankel shul was immeasurable…
Our condolences to Arna and the Lipkind family for their loss. We will surely miss him. Moshiach Now.
My family went back 40+ years with Reuven. He was a real mensch – kind and humble and straight and real. A huge loss for his family, our community and Klal Yisroel .
May the family have strength and comfort and Moshiach NOW!
Dear Arna,
I am deeply sorry for your loss. While I only had the opportunity to meet Reuven A”H once, I have always known you to speak of him with admiration and love. His legacy as a devoted civil servant, a respected community leader, and, most importantly, a beloved husband and father is truly inspiring.
During this difficult time, please know that my thoughts are with you and your family. May his memory be a source of comfort and strength, and may you find solace in the love and support of those around you.
With heartfelt condolences,
Berline
About 10 years ago, the community was protesting an 11 story homeless shelter aka supportive housing building which was next to three day care centers, and Jewish families. Reuven, as a representative of NYS Sen Jessie Hamilton office, obtained letters of opposition from the senator. Reuven protested with the community during a heavy blizzard, to the point where the color of Reuven’s signature beret was no longer visible from the falling snow. It was Reuven who invited me to help serve latkes to fathers and their sons at his shul during a religious learning event. It is this experience which… Read more »