Melvin Tublin
Melvin Tublin, who had a house in Springs for over 40 years, died at home in Brooklyn on Jan. 13. He was 90.
He was born to Benjamin Tublin and the former Rose Low on Sept. 23, 1927, in Brooklyn. He grew up there, and graduated with a bachelor’s degree from the United States Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point in 1949.
While at the academy, he served as a merchant marine on ships in waters around the world. After graduation, he became an officer on the S.S. Robin Kettering, a cargo ship sailing in the waters off South and East Africa. He also served as a captain in the United States Naval Reserve for 30 years.
The sea was one of two passions in his professional life: the law was the other. In 1953, he graduated from Georgetown Law School and four years later co-founded the law firm of Poles, Tublin, Patestides & Stratakis, now known as Poles, Tublin, Stratakis & Gonzalez. In doing so, he managed to merge his two passions. On the law firm’s web site, it proclaims a 60-year commitment to “its handling of admiralty cases, ship finance transactions,” and international transactions and litigation. Besides owning an office building in Manhattan’s financial district, the firm also has a strong working relationship with a law firm in Piraeus, Greece, to help facilitate its various international maritime activities.
Mr. Tublin, along with the three founding members of the firm, John Poles, Michael Patestides and Chris Stratakis, were more than just partners. They remained close friends throughout their lives.
In 1966, he married the former Eileen Wells. Six years later, the couple bought their house on Water Hole Road, keeping it until 2014.
Throughout his life, Mr. Tublin remained was active at his alma mater. “He was president of the Merchant Marine Academy’s alumni association from 1957 until 1961, and a member of its board of directors, and served as an adjunct professor,” his family wrote. He received the Meritorious Alumni Service Award in 1964, Outstanding Professional Achievement Award in 1984, Kings Pointer of the Year in 1986, and the Distinguished Service Award in 1997.
He served on the congressman’s selection committee for Kings Point appointees and was appointed to the school’s academic advisory board. He was also an organizer and financial supporter of the Kings Point Sailing Program. In November, Mr. Tublin was inducted into the Merchant Marine Academy Hall of Distinguished Graduates.
He was a dedicated fisherman, sailor, gardener, and storyteller. Besides his wife, who still lives in Brooklyn, he is survived by two daughters, Sharon Tublin of Brooklyn and Pamela Tublin Cook of Miami, and by his siblings, Rita Blinderman of Levittown and Seymor Tublin of Hawaii.
A service in his honor was held at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point on Jan. 18, after which he was buried at Calverton National Cemetery.
Donations have been suggested to the United States Merchant Marine Academy Alumni Association and Foundation, 300 Steamboat Road, Kings Point, N.Y. 11024.