Rebecca Lubarsky, 83, of Philadelphia, died after a brief illness on January 18, 1993 at Pennsylvania Hospital in center city.Miss Lubarsky was born in Easton, PA in 1909 and moved with her family to Philadelphia when she was 15. Her high school yearbook from the graduating class of 1927 described her as follows: "Our Rebecca is an athlete. On the tennis court she shines; She's a girl of upright character, And a sport along all lines." The yearbook goes on to describe her shy personality at the time: "We have often wondered why Rebecca did not let the whole class appreciate her sterling qualities, instead of the few girls who were fortunate in being her intimate friends. Those of us who know her well feel that with her strong, staunch spirit she will be successful in anything she may undertake."
Indeed, Miss Lubarsky was a quick study and upon graduation was a secretary and bookkeeper for a wholesale druggist. From 1929 to 1940, she worked for Western Union in their building at 1101 Locust Street in Philadelphia. In a 1985 interview she described her duties: "I sent messages on an electric machine called a multiplex. The letters were perforated on a white tape, and each letter of the alphabet had a different arrangement. That would pass over a transmitter which was being simultaneously printed at the destination in a distant city. At the other end, someone would be receiving that message in a printed form. There were regular messages, day letters and rush messages which were called RX and those were special. They were delivered by girls and boys on roller skates."
Over the ensuing decades she held a number of jobs, often as a bookkeeper or office manager. She retired in 1975 from the Insurance Company of North America (INA) at 16th and Arch Street in Philadelphia.
Miss Lubarsky was an early and devout member of PBS, devouring their news and information programming on television and radio. She had a remarkable memory for facts and figures and could hold her own in conversations ranging from art to politics to history and science. Although she never married nor had any children, she was very devoted to her six nieces and nephews, and eventually their children as well. "She never forgot a birthday or anniversary, and she attended almost every family function she could make it to, even in her later years," remarked her grand nephew Alan Boris.
Miss Lubarsky is survived by her brother William Lubar and sister Ada Brill, as well as her six nieces and nephews. Her brother Lawrence Lubarsky preceded her in death. A private funeral took place on January 20, 1993.
