45°
"It's humbling because many of the past recipients are people I know or did business with, who actually helped me when I was growing up," he said after the ceremony.
Rubino's photograph and accompanying biography were added to the Citizen of the Year section on the fourth floor of the Government Center. His name was also added to a board with the names of the previous 69 winners since the award first was given in 1945.
Rubino joked it was the first time he was ever on the fourth floor. He was chosen in December and said he had been very surprised by the honor.
The annual award is done in cooperation between the Jewish War Veterans and the City of Stamford.
As part of the ceremony, the photograph of 2013's Citizen of the Year, Tim Curtin, was taken down by Curtin and replaced with Rubino's photograph.
Rubino has long been been a prominent member of the business community and a committed supporter of organizations in Stamford. He is a founder of the Stamford Youth Basketball League and has worked as a director and at the executive level of the Stamford Boys & Girls Club, Stamford YMCA, the Yerwood Center, the Italian Center, the American Red Cross and the Exchange Club.
He and his wife, Day, live in the Newfield area. Their only child, Nicole, is married to Michael Hibbert and they have two daughters, Morgan, 14, and Faith, 11.
In 1970, Rubino founded Plaza Realty, the first full-service real estate company in the area that is now the largest management company in Fairfield County. He is retired from the company.
Immediately after the ceremony, Mayor David Martin hosted a breakfast on the fourth floor honoring Rubino, five scholarship recipients and five veterans who will all be honored at the Citizen of the Year Dinner on April 28 at the Italian Center.
Click here to follow Daily Voice Stamford and receive free news updates.
