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School celebrates Rabbi Night
Rabbi floor website
The "Rabbi's" emblem was unveiled at Rabbi Night at the Cuba City High School on Jan. 25 honoring long-time coach Bob "Rabbi" Beinborn who died two years ago in a car accident. - photo by Dena Harris

CUBA CITY—Dressed in every color combination of Rabbi gear, the community showed its support for a former coach during the Cuba City girls basketball game on Friday.

Rabbi Night was organized to officially unveil the emblem that was installed on the gymnasium floor last summer in memory of Bob Beinborn, nicknamed Rabbi, who died from injuries sustained in a two-vehicle car accident on June 17, 2011.

“Rabbi was indeed an inspiration to all of us, beating cancer in his life and being confined in a wheel chair the rest of his life,” Cuba City athletic director Jeff Pustina said. “But we all knew Rabbi and we all knew that there weren’t any excuses and there weren’t any complaints. It never slowed Rabbi down. He continued to do many things after that. Rabbi was about Cuba City, serving as our mayor for several years. He was about kids, coaching for nearly 40 years at various levels, boys and girls, different sports. Rabbi would do anything to help, especially if it was for kids.”

Pustina and two senior girls basketball players—Preston Kopp and Megan Salzmann—recalled stories involving Rabbi. Pustina told about Rabbi replacing one of his daughter’s bicycles. Salzmann recounted a story about throwing a cell phone on the gym floor during a game to tell the referee that it was a bad call.

“The consolation that I have, as many of us have, is the knowledge that we were privileged to have known and worked with him,” Pustina said. “We will remember such a great sense of humor, he was giving of himself so unselfishly and his commitment to the success of Cuba City.”

Brian Beinborn, Rabbi’s oldest son, thanked the Cuba City Booster Club, Cuba City High School and the people who pushed to make this happen.

“It’s really quite something to come into the gym and see Rabbi’s mark where dad spent so much of his time,” Brian Beinborn said. “Maybe the next thing we can work on is the candy machine.”

Brian Beinborn said the Cuba City High School gymnasium was his dad’s favorite place to be.

“With this gesture by Cuba City, dad will always be here,” Brian Beinborn said.

Rabbi’s wife, Rose Beinborn, unveiled the emblem on the gym floor near the east entrance. The logo “Rabbi” was painted in black on the floor to remember the coach and all he did for the Cuba City School District.