Arnold Rabin, of Ipswich, died Dec. 10 at the Care Dimensions Hospice House in Lincoln after a brief illness. He was 96.

Arnold was born Feb. 18, 1928 to Rae (Wishnefsky) and William Rabin in Philadelphia, Pa. He attended the University of Pennsylvania where he ultimately obtained a masters degree.

He established a career as a television writer-producer-director and worked at one time or another, for the three major networks.

He married Sydell Grossman in May of 1955. The couple and their son David vacationed on the Vineyard for years.

He become the chief of English Language Television at the United Nations from 1956-1959. In 1960, he became the administrator of special projects and an executive producer for PBS. During these years his documentaries and TV plays received such commendations as a Harcourt-Brace “Best TV Play” citation, a New York Emmy nomination, an Edinburg Film Festival showing and Ohio State and Variety awards.

It was the death of his closest friend, Sid Gross, that shook his life and prompted him to leave the world of television and New York, and move to Maplewood, N.J. where he devoted himself to writing plays for the theatre and short stories. As a playwright, he was selected a Fellow to the Edward Albee Foundation.

He is a recipient of the Distinguished Play Award from the American Council for Theatre and Education, the Denver Drama Critics’ Best New Play Award, the Drama League of New York’s Playwright Award and the Grand Prize at the Aspen Playwrights’ Festival. He has received a playwriting grant from the New Jersey State Council for the Arts and a creative writing grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.

His short stories have appeared in numerous literary and commercial magazines. His novel, The Rat and the Rose, received a finalist book award from the Small Press Association.

He took up pastel painting later in life while summering on Martha’s Vineyard.

He and Sydell moved to Ipswich in 2007 and enjoyed many a Sunday evening dinner at Ithaki and then Rev’s.

Arnold is pre-deceased by his wife Sydell, who died a month before him. He is survived by his son, Dr. David Rabin, his daughter in law Heather Atwood, and his granddaughters, Isabelle (Rabin) Bhayani and Georgia Rabin.

The family is indebted to the women from Caring for Caring out of Rockport, who provided incredible loving and devoted care to both Arnold and Sydell in the last year of their lives, and who made that time not only possible, but comfortable and joyful.