Y’s Men Membership News

Saturday, February 1, 2025

Hello, Y's Men:
This Saturday, we’re excited to introduce three members who joined this week and feature a profile of another recent addition to our community.
New Member Luncheon
Preparations are in full swing for the Y’s Men New Member-Luncheon at Gabriel’s of Westport on Thursday, February 27. The event has gained significant interest. More than 50 new members who joined since June already have signed up. This gathering will provide an excellent opportunity for new members to:
  • Meet Y’s Men's leadership
  • Learn about major activities
  • Connect with fellow new members
Welcoming Three New Members Who Joined Y’s Men This Week:

Bruce Plotkin, a Weston resident since 1988, joins us as our 16th member named Bruce. He brings a wealth of experience to our group including being a professional photographer for the last 45 years and is active with the Lachat Town Farm in Weston. (Sixteen Y's Men named “Bruce" might be surprising, but it shouldn’t be. The name "Bruce" reportedly peaked as the 25th most popular boy’s name in the United States in 1952.)


We’re also delighted to welcome Jerome Zhang to our community. Jerome has been a Westport resident since 2010 and comes to us with an impressive background that includes top management experience at a chemical company.  


Jim Birchfield was most recently the Senior Pastor -- First Presbyterian Church, Houston before moving to Westport. Jim is known for leading trips to Israel and Egypt and is knowledgeable about events and issues in the Middle East.  


Member Spotlight: Jeff Rubin

For this week’s profile, Clarence Hayes talked with new Y’s Man Jeff Rubin.

Jeff Rubin

A 42-Year Litigator/Executive, Father of Four, and Avid Tennis Player
Jeff Rubin has balanced a distinguished legal career with a lifelong passion for tennis and family. Raised on Long Island, Jeff played #2 Singles for Great Neck High School’s Nassau County Championship-winning team, and later co-captained SUNY Oneonta’s tennis team to a SUNY league title. After his junior year, he spent an unforgettable summer competing on the European tennis circuit.
Jeff’s interest in law began in high school. After earning a BA in Political Science from SUNY Oneonta, he attended Tulane Law School and transferred to Cornell. A highlight was arguing a moot court case before Supreme Court Justice Byron White. Jeff graduated in 1981 and three years later joined Phelan, Pope, and John in Chicago, handling a wide range of commercial litigation, eventually becoming a partner.
In 1996, Jeff became General Counsel at The Resolution Group, a holding company comprised of several “run-off” insurance companies. He managed the landmark UK conspiracy case Sphere-Drake vs. Euro International and Stirling Cooke Brown, securing a win which was critical in avoiding potential liabilities that may have exceeded a half-billion dollars.
In 2003 he joined Odyssey – a Stamford based reinsurer - as Head of Global Claims, moving his family to Westport.
After retiring in 2024, Jeff continues part-time as an accredited mediator and is active with the reinsurer’s arbitration society, helping establish standards and best practices. A skier and tennis enthusiast, Jeff enjoys playing at Longshore and looks forward to connecting with other Y's Men.
For the more in-depth profile that Clarence wrote about Jeff click here: https://www.ysmenwestportweston.org/profile/member/rubin-jeffrey/

We thank these Y’s Men who have referred new members during this fiscal year!

Win Allen

Larry Ackerman

Nabil Atweh

Woody Bliss

Bruce Borner

John Brandt

Marshall Breines

J. Scott Broder

Keith Brooks

Steve Chodroff

Robert Cohen

Ed Diamond

Mitch Fitter

Art Gang

Ron Holtz

Ted Horowitz

Robert Israely

George Kalan


Preston Koster

Steve Kunkes

Bruce Leavitt

Harvey Luft

Floyd McCoy

Paul Muller

Bob Mitchell

Denis Mittleman

Vito Palermo

Bob Rosenkranz

Steve Rothenberg

Allan Siegert

Nick Snow

Don Sullivan

Philip Trifiletti

Baxter Urist

Joe Wiles

Stan Winnick

Pete Wolgast

Warm regards,

Allan Siegert

Membership Chairman

Y’s Men of Westport/Weston

 

597 Westport Ave. B240

Norwalk, CT 06851

(203) 246-0385

News@siegert.us