Photo provided by Steve Bobkner
Life-long Van Cortlandt Park resident Jules Ira Rubenstein, the original “Inquiring Photographer” who produced that popular feature for the Norwood News for 14 years until his retirement more than a decade ago, died from complications of pneumonia. He was 74.
A source at Montefiore Hospital, where Rubenstein had been hospitalized since October, stated he had died on Feb. 4, confirming that at around 4:30 a.m., he was found unresponsive. “They tried to resuscitate him [but] he expired,” the source added.
Rubenstein was the Norwood News’ first “roving reporter” who covered local breaking news events such as police and fire department activity. He was first hired by then Norwood News editor-in-chief Betty Chen in June 1990 as a photographer, snapping photos of events in the neighborhood. The Inquiring Photographer was first published in the Norwood News in August 1990, becoming a fixture ever since. Rubenstein’s first question delved into whether the film The Bonfire of the Vanities, which focused some of its scenes in the Bronx, should be boycotted by Bronxites over its depiction of the borough.
Some of the questions he pegged to readers included a wide range of topical questions including thoughts on local businesses, national politics, or pop culture. His last, published in the May 1-14, 2008 edition of the Norwood News asked readers what they were most looking forward to doing in the spring of that year.
A graduate of DeWitt Clinton High School, Rubenstein spent one semester at NYU before dropping out and joining the Army National Guard, where he served for six years. Rubenstein caught the news bug while working at WCBS radio, where he wrote copy for the on-air personalities and answered phones during the overnight shift. In 2015 Rubenstein recalled, “People would call up and say they saw a flying saucer.”
Rubenstein was also a contributor to author Tom Philbin’s 2003 book entitled The 100 Greatest Inventions of All Time, for which he wrote a chapter on air conditioning and refrigeration. He also assisted Philbin on several other books for Philbin’s true crime series.
Rubenstein had been hospitalized in the fall of 2019. His friends brought him a radio, so he enjoyed some of the World Series games.
Longtime Norwood News editor Jordan Moss said of Rubenstein, “He was old fashioned in that he typed it all out on a typewriter and he’d hand it in. He was thorough in what he did. The Inquiring Photographer was a key part of the paper because it reflected the views of our readers, local folks and what they thought on local issues and he did a good job at that.”
The author of this report is the current Inquiring Photographer reporter.
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Welcome to the Norwood News, a bi-weekly community newspaper that primarily serves the northwest Bronx communities of Norwood, Bedford Park, Fordham and University Heights. Through our Breaking Bronx blog, we focus on news and information for those neighborhoods, but aim to cover as much Bronx-related news as possible. Founded in 1988 by Mosholu Preservation Corporation, a not-for-profit affiliate of Montefiore Medical Center, the Norwood News began as a monthly and grew to a bi-weekly in 1994. In September 2003 the paper expanded to cover University Heights and now covers all the neighborhoods of Community District 7. The Norwood News exists to foster communication among citizens and organizations and to be a tool for neighborhood development efforts. The Norwood News runs the Bronx Youth Journalism Heard, a journalism training program for Bronx high school students. As you navigate this website, please let us know if you discover any glitches or if you have any suggestions. We’d love to hear from you. You can send e-mails to norwoodnews@norwoodnews.org or call us anytime (718) 324-4998.
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What was his funeral arrangements. Is he buried with his parents.
Jules was buried on Staten Island, if you’d like the details you can reach me on Facebook. Thanks Catherine!
I knew Jules very well. He was a man of principle. I used to read his man on the street interviews when he worked at Norwood News. He loved music, especially country and western and played several instruments. He circulated around the Irish Pubs around Kingsbridge and Inwood sections preforming music with his life long friend Michael Philbin. RIP good buddy. You were one of a kind to quote somebody.
Such a wonderful friend. He will be missed. I’m heartbroken 😱
The last time I spoke to him, he played his guitar and sang an old tune. RIP 🙏😢😢😢😢😢
Jules lived next door to me for twenty years. He was a funny guy, dead pan and talkative. he also played guitar and contributed to my knowledge and appreciation of music. A talented man with a big heart. Truly a good neighbor. I will miss him.
RIP Mr. Jules, a wonderful and kind hearted man.
I am gonna miss him . I knew him a long time. He loved music . He used to play in many bars years ago . He loved hockey .He would play years ago as a goalie. I loved reading his articles in the Norwood News. He did not call me for a long. I knew that something was wrong. It is hard to believe that he passed away. I had many talks with him. The last few years he had it tough.May his memory be a blessing and may he rest in peace.