Veteran Brooklyn educator Fortunato “Fred” Rubino — who was recently promoted to superintendent of District 14 — died this morning of a heart attack at home, his family said.
Rubino, who would have turned 57 on Sunday, worked for most of his life as a teacher and administrator at IS 318 in Williamsburg.
He served as principal of the popular middle school — which won dozens of accolades for its chess prowess — since 2003, according to Department of Education records.
He was first hired by the city as a substitute teacher in 1980.
“He was a wonderful man,” said his brother, Charlie. “I don’t think anybody didn’t like him. Professionally, personally, family — he just had such a positive attitude about life.”
A graduate of Brooklyn Tech HS and Baruch College, Rubino spent years coaching basketball and playing the guitar and banjo in a bluegrass band.
He was one of six siblings brought up in Greenpoint, where he would later raise two sons — Rocco and Joseph — with his wife, LeeAnn.
“He was just a community guy who loved his neighborhood,” said PS 257 principal Brian Leavy-DeVale. “He was dynamo. He was the prince of Williamsburg.”