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For those new to this website:

Tamara Rubin is a multiple-federal-award-winning independent advocate for childhood Lead poisoning prevention and consumer goods safety, and a documentary filmmaker. She is also a mother of Lead-poisoned children (two of her sons were acutely Lead-poisoned in 2005). Since 2009, Tamara has been using XRF technology (a scientific method used by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission) to test consumer goods for toxicants (specifically heavy metals — including Lead, Cadmium, Mercury, Antimony, and Arsenic). All test results reported on this website are science-based, accurate, and replicable. Items are tested multiple times to confirm the test results for each component tested. Tamara’s work was featured in Consumer Reports Magazine in February of 2023 (March 2023 print edition).

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Sunday, October 11, 2020
Writing to you from a cabin in a forest on a lake in Maine today!

After a long day of writing about Lead (yesterday I wrote and published 13 new articles with consumer goods test results and there are more to come this weekend!), I like to reward myself by allowing myself the opportunity to write about something I really WANT to write about (usually something that has been on my to-do list for a long time…or something I may include in a memoir at some future point in time).

Since I am with my kids here today in the forest (on a lake in Maine), I decided to write an article for them… something they ask me about often, and would get a kick out of reading years from now. I also figured if my children get a kick out of these little stories (or glimpses!) from my 50+ years on the planet, then my readers may enjoy them, too!

My kids always say that I am “Jazz Famous”

I love sharing stories with my kids about the people I have met in my life, and they enjoy hearing these stories too. My children are especially fascinated by my countless random brushes with “celebrity.” Before I start my list I thought I would share that my kids always joke with me that I am “Jazz Famous.” Since two of them are professional jazz musicians, they have a real context for what this means — but for those of you not familiar with the term (as I was not!), “Jazz Famous” means “super famous to a really small subset of people.” (In this case, “famous” means being known, respected, followed, or similar!)

Given I am “Jazz Famous,” I have had lots of fun bumping into “fans”/ readers out in the world (these are chance encounters that I really cherish and appreciate BTW!). Incidents have included women coming up to me in the grocery store (or airport, at a conference, or in the street, or a school parking lot!) and being like “OMG, it’s you! It’s Tamara Rubin! I cannot believe I am meeting the real Tamara Rubin!” Lol. To me, this is super-bizarre, because what I am “famous” for (through my writings, social media presence, and my film) is exposing the need for corporate accountability in the area of toxicants found in our homes and environments.

I must say that I truly appreciate the era that we live in — an era in which the Internet and social media make it possible for any environmental activist to be “Jazz Famous”. That said, it’s an honor and an opportunity that I don’t take lightly. Thank YOU for being here and thank YOU for reading and sharing what I write!

“So who are all the famous people you have met, Tamara?”

While there are several actual (super-famous) jazz musicians on my list (mostly because of the circles my kids and my husband travel in!), the list of “notable” people I have met includes people from so many different professions and walks of life (including many people who are “jazz famous,” and others who are more universally known). Some of these people I even consider to be good friends (or close friends of my family) — people we have known for decades and some for nearly half a century! I am going to break out the list by profession, to the best of my ability — although some have overlap. And remember, I am just doing this as a fun exercise for my kids… so if you are here on the website for the “Lead conversation” only, please feel free to skip this article! I also want to say that many of these I am just mentioning here — but each usually has a whole story behind it! My kids already know many of these stories of course, and I hope to eventually have the time to write each of these stories up in detail here on the site!

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The famous people I have bumped into in my life…

Politicians/ Political Figures/ Activists

• Robert Reich — I got to have lunch with him and talk to him about Lead poisoning (he’s my college boyfriend’s first cousin!) There’s a funny story behind this, too! It was during this visit that I discovered that crosswalk striping in California is NOT painted with Lead paint — (even though it is painted with Lead paint in other parts of the country!)
• Rosalynn Carter — (Jimmy’s Wife) — I coordinated a fundraising event for a mental health nonprofit and she was our guest speaker for the event!
• Bernie Sanders (of course) — He was a special guest at my event in Flint in 2016 (and, given that the catastrophe in Flint was still unfolding at that time, while he was in the midst of his Presidential run, he and his people basically “took over” that event! Lol) Before I did the event with him in Flint, I had met Bernie and his wife Jane at a rally in New Hampshire. [My kids think he is the most famous person I ever met!] 
• Colin Powell — He spoke at an event where I was the front-of-house manager
• Noam Chomsky — I interviewed him for my film, and asked him for advice when events in my life started spiraling out of control in 2016 and later. I am so thankful for his presence in the world, and the fact that he has repeatedly taken the time to engage and respond to help others!
• Michael Moore — I met him c. 2013 in Lansing, Michigan at a book event. I spoke with him briefly and gave him a copy of the rough cut of my film (which I am fairly certain he never watched! #Sigh)
• Erin Brockovich — I was fortunate enough to be an opening presenter for Erin at a presentation she did in Portland, in April of 2016. We had a nice time chatting for more than an hour backstage, just the two of us! I showed her the high-precision XRF instrument I use, and told her how it worked — and I also bought her a drink (and gave her a referral to a local massage therapist and a chiropractor since she shared that she was experiencing a great deal of back pain that night!).

An unusual category: Cycling celebrities I’ve met…
My uncle is a bit of a cycling legend (and my husband has a bit of a cult following in the bicycle world, as well). I also used to race bicycles as a kid… so I’ve met my share of legends in the cycling world…

• Larry “Pigpen” Glickfeld — my uncle (my mother’s brother). Larry wrote a famous cycling journal in Berkley, California in the 1960s (I believe it was called Competitive Cycling), and it was one of the very first magazines of its kind. He took me mountain biking for the first time when I was about 15 years old (summer 1985), and it was he who inspired me to race (in high school), and to ride my bike 2,400 miles around Europe – in 44 days! – when I was 17 (summer 1987, right after I graduated high school). Later when I met all of the people listed below, they all told me they assumed he was dead (they all fondly recalled him, and were completely surprised to learn he was still alive!) In about 2003 I went to a party (with almost everyone listed below) and told them who I was  —”Pigpen”‘s niece [not to be confused with “Pigpen” of the Grateful Dead) — and then I called him on my cell phone,  and everyone at the party proceeded to pass my phone around so they could have a chance to talk to Larry, which was a special treat for everyone there — again, because they were pretty certain he was dead! [He is still not dead.]
• Greg LeMond — I met on a fundraising bike ride in Boston when I was about 16 years old
• Gary Fisher — Gary and the guys below all were pioneers in the mountain bike world and spent a lot of time in and around Marin where I lived, so we have many mutual friends and ended up at some of the same parties together.
• Joe Breeze — he came to dinner at my house in Fairfax after I met my husband
• Tom Ritchey — he offered to buy my husband’s folding bike design from him 17 years ago maybe? – at a party in Berkeley. [My husband said “no” at that time, because he didn’t want to risk compromising the development of that particular design, by what he viewed as a premature commercialization — a decision he does not regret.] 
• Charlie Cunningham — a friend of my husband, and all of the folks above and below – so at many of the same parties and gatherings!
• Charlie Kelly — he knows my uncle, and my husband (and my ex, too!) I went to his 50th birthday party with my ex long before I met my husband! (#small world!) 

Foodies

• Wolfgang Puck — I did an event with him years ago (c. 1992)
• Narsai David — same story as above!
• Bradley Ogden — same story as above! – he also used my mother’s honey!
• Noah Alper (the guy with the bagels) — he was friends with my mom (and separately friends with my dad) and I used to babysit his son Jesse 1,000,000 years ago.

Artists/ Authors

• Adam Mansbach — the author of “Go The Fuck To Sleep” – our families were friends, going back to when his aunt went to high school with my mother (in the late-1950s). We played together when we were little kids. [I am sure he doesn’t remember me, but I am still friends with his aunt and with his older cousins who are closer to my age!]
• Frank Oz — he directed an episode of TV show (Leverage) that I was in. It was such an honor to meet him! When I met him I told him that he was probably the artist who had the greatest influence on my life (of all the artists, performers, musicians, etc. who have influenced my life)!
• Robert Colescott is my eldest son’s biological grandfather (look him up!)
• Mel Chin is an amazing artist who is also friend (if you don’t know who he is, look him up!) – our lives have crossed paths a few different times, in a series of strange coincidences! He does installation art projects with social justice themes – including work in Lead poisoning prevention (which he started doing decades after I first met him.)
• Marcel Marceau — this meeting was truly a highlight of my life! I was the event coordinator for an event he performed at; we got to spend some time together [and, as I was fluent, we spoke in French – for which he said he was grateful], and he was so incredibly nice!
• Mikhail Baryshnikov —- I “bumped into him” on a dance floor in a nightclub in Paris (c. January/February 1990…and he was with Martin Scorsese! We both used to go to the same club on a regular basis (it was a very fancy club and I was friends with a young man who was close friends with the owner at the time.)

Musicians

• Tom Lehrer — I met him in Cambridge with my kids — about two weeks ago! 😉
• Carly Simon — I ran into her on Martha’s Vineyard when I was a kid (more than a few times!)
• James Taylor —  (same story as Carly, above!)
• Chuck Israels — he is a close family friend, and has been a mentor to my children. He is a legendary jazz musician, arranger, bandleader and educator. (He was the bass player for The Bill Evans Trio, and for Billie Holiday, among many, many others.) He’s an amazing human being, and we love him to pieces!
• Wynton Marsalis, Kenny Rampton, Marcus Printup, Walter Blanding (and several others from the Jazz At Lincoln Center Orchestra)… these people are recurring characters in our lives because of their influence on my children (their musical development and education). If you ever have a chance to hear JALC play — even if you do not consider yourself to be a “fan of jazz” — please go! Wynton Marsalis is a consummate musician and an American Jazz and Classical musical icon (the Marsalis family is regarded in Jazz circles as this century’s American musical royalty!). Wynton is also an incredible history teacher and storyteller, and I love hearing what he has to say between each of the numbers he performs with his band or ensemble.
• Queen Latifa — she spoke at a conference I went to in Chicago (c. 2012/2013?). I followed her backstage and gave her a copy of my film to watch (which I am fairly certain she never watched! … #sigh)… My introductory words to her were that we have a mutual friend (who she remembered well when I mentioned him; they went to grade school together and he and I went to college together).
• Peter, Paul & Mary — they performed at an event I coordinated. I got their autographs for my son.
• The Temptations — they got down on their knees and serenaded me backstage (with a rendition of “My Girl”) at a concert when I handed them a $20,000 check to pay them for their performance!! I was the event coordinator for the music hall at the time.
• Most of the members of the Grateful Dead (from the 1990 to 1994 period) — I was a backstage masseuse at several concerts in 1990-1992, and we had a friend who would always get us backstage passes because she was friends with this guy (Brian?) who worked with Bill Graham!
• Mickey Hart (specifically & separately from my encounters with the Grateful Dead) — I coordinated an event for a client where he received an honorary doctorate degree in psychology for preserving the percussion instruments and music of indigenous people worldwide.
• Bobby McFerrin — I worked an event where he performed and managed hospitality for the green room then, too.
• Jefferson Starship — same as with Bobby M.
• Jon Fishman (of Phish) — I met him after his kiddo tested positive for Lead & he and his wife were looking for resources and answers (and next steps) as most families who call me are.

Television & Stage

• Jenna Elfman — She was a special guest at an event where I was presented with an award I won for my advocacy work
• Laila Ali — She was also a special guest at an event where I won an award for my advocacy work (same event as Jenna!)
• Don Novello (SNL’s “Father Guido Sarduci”) — I wrote about that chance meeting here… (link)
• Deidre Hall — I did some work for her. I had no idea who she was at the time… In the course of our visit I said “So what do you do for work?” and she responded “I work in television.” lol! [Note to self: always Google clients and business partners before you meet them so you don’t look stupid!]
• Richard Simmons (fitness guru) — He approached me in an airport when I was about 15 years old and flying on my own. He said liked my outfit, and wanted to make sure I knew that!
• Jesse Martin — (of Law & Order”, “Rent ” and “The Flash” fame) – we went to college together and were in a scene study class together. We worked together on a scene project once and I got to kiss him as part of that scene! He is the reason I can say that I have “two degrees of separation from kissing Harrison Ford“! 😉 — he used to kiss Calista Flockhart when he played her boyfriend in “Ally McBeal”, and Calista Flockhart kisses Harrison Ford (because they are dating in RL!)

Film: Filmmakers & Actors

• Martin Scorsese — I bumped into him (literally) on the dance floor with Mikhail Baryshnikov in a club in Paris in 1991.
• Oliver Stone — I met him at an NYU alumni event in Los Angeles
• Ricki Lake — I was on her most recent “Ricki Lake” show — that’s a fun story – about how that came about, too! I guess she is also friends with a cousin of mine! 😉 My kids are also are huge fans of the movie,”Hairspray“!
• Mariel Hemingway — we met at a party in Chicago years ago! I tested her purse with an XRF instrument (and I think I may have also tested her shoes if I recall correctly!)
• Hugh Grant — I was in a movie with him; we spent an entire day together as we had the same entrance cue. (This was for the movie “Nine Months” with Robin Williams.)
• Tom Arnold — he was also in the movie with Hugh Grant
• Jeff Goldblum — I was a circumcision nurse in the movie, and so – apropos – backstage I asked him (and Hugh) if they were circumcised, lol…interesting conversation followed!
• Robin Williams — I met Robin 5 or 6 times over the years, in the airport, at parties, and at events I was working at where he was a special guest.
• Kenneth Branagh — at an event with Robin Williams (it was his birthday — and I wished him “happy birthday,” and he thanked me for remembering!). My kids think this is super cool because of the “Harry Potter “connection!
• Raul Julia — harassed me in the subway in NYC in October of 1987 (when I was dressed as a cow for Halloween!).
• George Lucas — I met him several times; I was the site coordinator for his Christmas party one year (maybe two, it’s a blur) and I also met him in a movie theater (that he owned) and I also met him because his daughter went to the preschool where I was the receptionist.
• Philip Seymour Hoffman — I went to college at NYU when he was there and there was more than one occasion where I bumped into him in the halls (or hung out in the break room at the same time as him).
• Ed Begley, Jr. — After following each other on Twitter for a couple of years, I visited with him at his home and talked with him about green building and green design. We did a Twitter party for Healthy Housing together while sitting at his dining room table, too & then he and his wife took me out to a comedy show in Los Angeles where we met up with other famous comedy friends of his! (I was connected with him via a good friend of mine from high school; she is a environmentally-conscious interior designer who worked on the design finishes for his new home.)
• Jamie Redford (Robert’s son — who is a documentary film director) — was kind enough to take the time to review my film and give me feedback. We also had some good conversations about Lead — Lead in consumer goods, and links between Lead exposure and dyslexia, etc. He created the film “Toxic Hot Seat” (about toxic exposure among fire fighters from the burning of flame-retardant chemicals), and also created “The Big Picture“, a film about dyslexia (because his son had dyslexia) so our areas of interest and focus overlap quite a bit.
• Morgan Spurlock — I met him at his company Christmas party in December of 2011 in New York City.  One of the cameramen for my film brought me to the party (he had been a camera person on a few of Morgan’s project’s previously.) I also met Morgan’s brother Craig at that party (I have always said that we were probably the only two “old married people” at the party — “the only people not looking to hook up with a partner” … so had fun just chatting!), and we are still friends today.

That’s everyone I can think of right now… but I am sure there are more and I will update this list over the coming days! 🙂 Thanks for reading! Feel free to comment below with your interesting celebrity encounters!

Tamara Rubin
#LeadSafeMama