Bira Rabushka, a radiant and passionate violinist, devoted teacher, beloved wife, mother, sister, and aunt, passed away on July 21, 2025, at age 91, leaving behind a powerful legacy of music, vision, and love. She first joined Local 802 in 1951.

Born in New York City on May 5, 1934, Bira led a remarkable life defined by artistry, elegance, and dedication to the world of music and the arts. A gifted violinist whose talent was recognized early, Bira studied under famed violin teacher Raphael Bronstein and the Tanglewood Music Center. Bira’s education continued at the School of Music and Art, Queens College, and Boston University.

She rose to prominence, starting with a performance at Carnegie Hall at 16. Bira, performed with the Joffrey Ballet, New York City Opera, and in her 46-year tenure with the New York City Ballet she ascended to first violinist. Both Bira and her first husband Georges Haas were invited to play in the Marlboro Music Festival Orchestra a number of times conducted by famed cellist and conductor Pablo Casals.

Bira was deeply involved in the Westchester arts scene and took a lifelong role in the political and cultural life of her community.

Recognizing a need for arts education in Westchester County, Bira founded the Northern Westchester Center for the Arts in 1978. Under her leadership, the center flourished for decades — offering music, dance, theatre, and visual arts programs to children, teens, and adults, kindling creativity and appreciation of the arts for generations. Her passion, fierce advocacy and support for arts education earned her recognition from the New York State Assembly.

Outside of her professional endeavors, Bira loved chamber music, ballroom dancing, architecture, intellectual inquisitiveness and world travel. She was an endlessly curious and creative soul. She was a force of nature whose vivacity left a lasting impression.

Those who knew her admired her feistiness, strength of will and fierce independence, articulate voice, indomitable spirit, elegance, humor, and resolute passion for making the world a more beautiful place through art. Her legacy lives on in every student she mentored, every note she played, and every life she enriched.

Bira is survived by her beloved children, Avi and Alysa Haas who both carry forward her legacy of intellectual curiosity and love of culture. She was predeceased by her husbands, Georges Louis Haas, with whom she had her two children, and Joseph Rabushka.

She will be deeply missed — but her music, spirit, and love will continue to resonate in all who knew her.

May her memory be a blessing.

Obituary submitted by Ms. Rabushka’s daughter Alysa Haas.