Sam Rubinstein, savvy businessman gave back to Seattle, dies at age 89

The Northwest arts community lost one of its greatest philanthropists in the small hours of Thursday morning, when Sam Rubinstein died at his winter home at Rancho Mirage, Calif. In failing health following a recent operation, Mr. Rubinstein, 89, had refused further kidney dialysis.

"He wanted to do things his way," said his son, Mark, "even when it came to his death."

Sam Rubinstein and his wife of 66 years, Gladys, had one simple goal for all the millions they gave to music, art, theater, dance, education and human services: "He always wanted to make things better for Seattle," as Gladys put it.

Mr. Rubinstein spent the first half of his life earning money, and the rest of it giving money away.

"Sam was one of the smartest businessmen I've ever dealt with," said longtime friend and attorney Irwin Treiger. "He had a reputation for being tough, but he was extremely fair. He was very successful in all his endeavors, and worked hard in the first part of his life so that he could give the money away in the latter part."

He was born Sept. 17, 1917, into a family of European immigrants who built up a successful seafood company. Entering the University of Washington at 15, Mr. Rubinstein graduated four years later and joined his family's business, expanding it into a major salmon-canning company, Whitney-Fidalgo Seafoods. Mr. Rubinstein also bought another seafood company, Farwest Fisheries, and built it into a thriving enterprise.

During World War II, Mr. Rubinstein served as a first lieutenant in the Army Air Force and married Gladys Seidenverg in 1940.

He had a wide array of business interests, which extended from plywood manufacturing and shopping centers to fast-food outlets (Arby's), a chain of drugstores (G.O. Guy), discount stores (Bonanza) and a mail-in film-development company (Seattle Film Works). He was a founding director of Pacific Northwest Bank (now integrated into Wells Fargo) and served on the board of Starbucks during its formative years.

Many arts organizations were on the receiving end of Mr. Rubinstein's largesse — often dispensed in multimillion-dollar gifts. Treiger said Mr. Rubinstein was also savvy. "Everyone turned to him for advice."

Among the organizations he supported: the Seattle Symphony, Seattle Opera, Seattle Art Museum, Pilchuck Glass School, Seattle Chamber Music Society, ACT Theater, Pacific Northwest Ballet and Book-It Repertory Theater; the Rubinsteins also donated to several Palm Springs arts causes. In 2006, in recognition of their many years of service to the arts in Seattle, the couple received both the annual ArtsFund Award for Lifetime Dedication to the Arts and the annual Seattle Symphony Devotion to the Arts Award.

"Sam possessed a unique sense of humor," said Mark Rubinstein in a statement. "He used to say that after their wedding, he rented all their furniture, with an option to buy, just in case the marriage lasted. He once owned an inboard speedboat, which mysteriously kept sinking while tied to the dock. He renamed the boat Happy Bottom, his favorite translation of Gladys' name."

In addition to his wife and son, Mr. Rubinstein is survived by two grandchildren, Maisie and Judd; his descendants all live in the San Francisco Bay Area. Following a service this weekend in Palm Springs, the family will schedule a memorial in Seattle later this spring. Reflecting the Rubinsteins' close relationship with the Seattle Symphony and music director Gerard Schwarz, remembrances in his name should be sent to the Symphony, 200 University St., Seattle, WA 98101.

Melinda Bargreen: mbargreen@seattletimes.com