[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 31 (Thursday, March 3, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E408]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      CELEBRATING THE LIFE AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF MR. JAMES RUBINO

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. ZOE LOFGREN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 3, 2011

  Ms. ZOE LOFGREN of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 
life and accomplishments of Mr. James Rubino, a dedicated member of our 
community who was known to the hundreds of people whose lives he 
touched simply as ``Papa.''
  Jim was born in San Francisco on January 31st, 1913. He was a first-
generation American, born to immigrant parents, Sebastiano and Maria 
Rubino. He met his wife, Ebe Rubino, in 1938 and they were married in 
1940.
  During WWII, Jim worked for Matson, refinishing the inside of war 
planes and selling vegetables out of his truck that he called ``Jim's 
Market on Wheels.'' After a few years he wanted a healthier life for 
his children, so he moved his family to a ranch in San Martin. He 
raised ``layers'' and ``fryers'' (chickens) along with his two 
children, Mike and Lynne.
  Jim's son Mike became the band director of Live Oak High School and 
started the Emerald Regime Marching Band and Color Guard in 1970. Jim, 
with the help of his wife Ebe, cooked and catered each year for the 
band members and their families for band retreats, competitions, and 
fundraisers. He often fed a few hundred students and parents at once. 
Jim was one of the first chefs of the Gilroy Garlic Festival's Gourmet 
Alley creating his now famous Stuffed Mushrooms which are still a 
festival favorite and fundraiser for the band.
  For nearly three decades, Jim fed our young musicians on trips all 
over the country, and even on three trips abroad. He was there when the 
students won the Bands of America Championship in with the highest 
overall point score ever recorded in that competition, a record which 
was held for 30 years. He was there again when his son led the Emerald 
Regime as they played ``Stars and Stripes Forever'' across the Great 
Wall of China.
  Last year, Jim and Ebe celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary. Jim 
passed away on February 7th of this year at the age of 98. He lived at 
his ranch in San Martin until the day he died, and Ebe still lives 
there now.
  I want to commend the life of a true American--the son of immigrants, 
the father of a teacher, the grandfather of musicians, a farmer, and a 
friend to everyone he met.

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