Daniel I. Lubetkin

Mr. Lubetkin was born in Newark, NJ, and lived in South Orange before moving to Mountain Lakes in 1991. He earned a law degree from Rutgers Law School, where he was an editor of the Law Review. Upon graduation, he served as law clerk to Justice Frederick W. Hall.

Lubetkin early became an expert in condemnation law, lecturing and authoring numerous articles for lawyers and appraisers. He served the New Jersey Highway Authority in acquiring the property needed to complete the Garden State Parkway. He later facilitated the purchase of the property required to expand the Essex County Courthouse and Administrative Offices.

In 1961, he was elected to the NJ General Assembly, and was named leader of the Essex County Democratic delegation. Later he served as Acting Surrogate of Essex County. Recognized as an authority in estate administration, he lectured for the Institute for Continuing Legal Education for more than 30 years, and wrote and regularly updated the textbook Basic Estate Administration, information needed by all new attorneys.

Lubetkin was a leader in improving education for the developmentally disabled. In the Assembly he pioneered legislation to study the educational needs of and better serve neurologically impaired children. A director for the NJ Association for Children with Learning Disabilities, he received its highest award for “service with humanitarian distinction.” He also served as trustee and vice president of JESPY House, a program for developmentally disabled adults.

He taught business law at Rutgers Law School, and is a past president of the Rutgers Law School Alumni Association. He practiced law in Newark, Roseland, and Mountain Lakes, and retired in 2000. His retirement was full of family adventures, travel, attainment of Silver Life Master in bridge, theater, and extensive reading of the Great Books.

Most importantly, he was a devoted husband whose marriage to Rebecca Levin Lubetkin spanned almost 60 years, he was the father of two daughters, and a source of love and wisdom to his four grandchildren.

He is survived by his daughters, Julie Lubetkin (Marc Fagel) of San Carlos, CA, and Dr. Erica Lubetkin (Kenneth Drake) of Manhattan, and grandchildren Joshua Daniel Fagel (Elena Bauer), Alyssa Sophia Fagel, Ilana Rose Drake, and Ari Daniel Drake. He is also survived by many sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nieces and nephews, among whom locally are Rachel Rose Siwoff (Dr. Ronald), and Treasure Cohen (Richard). He was predeceased by his beloved wife Rebecca.

Contributions may be made to www.jespyhouse.org for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities; and Kol Rina, www.kolrinanj.org,a lay-led, egalitarian Jewish synagogue.