Fabian 'Fabie" C. Rufin

January 20, 1931 to October 05, 2024

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FABIAN “Fabie” C. RUFIN, aged 93, passed away on October 5, 2024 in Houston, Texas USA with his
family by his side. He was born on January 20, 1931 in Umingan, Pangasinan Philippines to the late
Rosauro Rufin and Rosalina Carorocan Rufin. He was the second of six children.
Fabie completed his A.B. Major in Political Science at the University of the East. He enrolled in the
College of Law, but stopped due to lack of funds to continue. He joined the Government service and
served as a Barrio Development Worker with the Presidential Assistant on Community Development
(PACD) Office in Davao, then as a Municipal Development Officer of the Cooperatives Administrative
Office (CAO) for more than 10 years in Agoo, La Union. He was then the Acting Commercial Cooperative
Officer.
After more than 13 years of respite from school, he continued his law studies at the University of the
East in 1970, graduated with a Bachelor of Laws degree in 1971, and passed the Bar Exam the same
year.
After passing the Bar, he then worked as Legal Officer I, Legal Officer III, Administrative Officer, Director
of the Consumer Federated Groups of the Philippines (CFGP), Administrative Officer of the Department
of Trade and Industry and later on became the Chief of the Legal Department of the Philippine Patents
Office (now The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines, IPOPHL) under the Department of Trade
and Industry.
Fabie married Estrellita V. Salim and had 2 children, Owen (+) and Claire.
Fabian and his wife Estrellita came to the United States in 2011.
Fabie had the good fortune to celebrate and cherish the big and small milestones of his family including
attending his daughter’s residency graduation and wedding, and have sweet bonding moments with his
grandson Antony.
Fabie excels in Scrabble, solving crossword puzzles, dama and chess. He was the Champion of the chess
tournament conducted by the Department of Trade and Industry in which all lawyers of the department
participated. He is fond of treasure hunting, fishing, gardening and planting trees.
Fabian was preceded in death by his son Owen, father Rosauro, mother Rosalina, mother-in-law
Benedicta, father-in-law Julian, sisters Felina R. Canto and Bibiana R. Romero, brother German C. Rufin,
and Uncle Dr. Aquilino C. Rufin.
Fabian is survived by his wife Estrellita, daughter Claire, son-in-law Tony Lew, grandson Antony Lew, his
sisters Donita R. Bucsit, and Trigidia R. and Rufo Colisao and family, sisters-in-law (Nelly Orencia and
family, Evelyn Goh, Ildefonsa Salim and family, Rosario Salim and family, Mary Susan Salim), his nephews
(Winston “Boyet” Romero, Ronaldo Bucsit, Noel Orencia, Elmer Orencia, Allan Salim, Clarence Salim), his
nieces and friends (Tricia Salim, Maribel Orencia, Gina Nario, Bibiana and Froilan Talipan and family,
David and Harriet Lew and family, Grace and Glenn Villamar and family, Jeane Marie Ricafort and family,

Aurora Tamesis and family), and many cousins, nieces, nephews, grandchildren, great grandchildren and
friends.
We wish to especially thank all the doctors and staff who took care of Fabian at the Methodist Hospital,
TMC in Houston, Texas USA who provided exceptional and compassionate care.
Viewing is scheduled for 12-4 pm on October 28, 2024 at Claire Brothers Funeral Home at 7901 Hillcroft
St. Houston, Texas 77081, USA. His remains will be shipped to the Philippines per his wishes.
A funeral service will be held in the Philippines at La Funenaria Paz at 143 Araneta Ave., Barangay
Tatalon, Quezon City, Philippines. Burial will be at Eternal Gardens Memorial Park in Caloocan, Metro
Manila, Philippines.
We find comfort in knowing that Papa’s legacy lives on through the lessons he taught us, the love he
shared and the memories he left us, which we will cherish forever.FABIAN “Fabie” C. RUFIN, aged 93, passed away on October 5, 2024 in Houston, Texas USA with his
family by his side. He was born on January 20, 1931 in Umingan, Pangasinan Philippines to the late
Rosauro Rufin and Rosalina Carorocan Rufin. He was the second of six children.
Fabie completed his A.B. Major in Political Science at the University of the East. He enrolled in the
College of Law, but stopped due to lack of funds to continue. He joined the Government service and
served as a Barrio Development Worker with the Presidential Assistant on Community Development
(PACD) Office in Davao, then as a Municipal Development Officer of the Cooperatives Administrative
Office (CAO) for more than 10 years in Agoo, La Union. He was then the Acting Commercial Cooperative
Officer.
After more than 13 years of respite from school, he continued his law studies at the University of the
East in 1970, graduated with a Bachelor of Laws degree in 1971, and passed the Bar Exam the same
year.
After passing the Bar, he then worked as Legal Officer I, Legal Officer III, Administrative Officer, Director
of the Consumer Federated Groups of the Philippines (CFGP), Administrative Officer of the Department
of Trade and Industry and later on became the Chief of the Legal Department of the Philippine Patents
Office (now The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines, IPOPHL) under the Department of Trade
and Industry.
Fabie married Estrellita V. Salim and had 2 children, Owen (+) and Claire.
Fabian and his wife Estrellita came to the United States in 2011.
Fabie had the good fortune to celebrate and cherish the big and small milestones of his family including
attending his daughter’s residency graduation and wedding and have sweet bonding moments with his
grandson Antony.
Fabie excels in Scrabble, solving crossword puzzles, dama and chess. He was the Champion of the chess
tournament conducted by the Department of Trade and Industry in which all lawyers of the department
participated. He is fond of treasure hunting, fishing, gardening and planting trees.
Fabian was preceded in death by his son Owen, father Rosauro, mother Rosalina, mother-in-law
Benedicta, father-in-law Julian, sisters Felina R. Canto and Bibiana R. Romero, brother German C. Rufin,
and Uncle Dr. Aquilino C. Rufin.
Fabian is survived by his wife Estrellita, daughter Claire, son-in-law Tony Lew, grandson Antony Lew, his
sisters Donita R. Bucsit and Trigidia R. Colisao and family, sisters-in-law (Nelly Orencia and family, Evelyn
Goh, Ildefonsa Salim and family, Rosario Salim and family), his nephews (Winston “Boyet” Romero,
Ronaldo Bucsit, Noel Orencia, Elmer Orencia, Allan Salim, Clarence Salim), his nieces and friends (Tricia
Salim, Maribel Orencia, Gina Nario, Bibiana Talipan and family, Jeane Marie Ricafort and family, Aurora
Tamesis and family), and many cousins, nieces, nephews, grandchildren, great grandchildren and
friends.

We wish to specially thank all the doctors and staff who took care of Fabian at the Methodist Hospital,
TMC in Houston, Texas USA who provided exceptional and compassionate care.
Viewing is scheduled for 12-4 pm on October 28, 2024 at Claire Brothers Funeral Home at 7901 Hillcroft
St. Houston, Texas 77081, USA. His remains will be shipped to the Philippines per his wishes.
A funeral service will be held in the Philippines at La Funenaria Paz at 143 Araneta Ave., Barangay
Tatalon, Quezon City, Philippines. Burial will be at Eternal Gardens Memorial Park in Caloocan, Metro
Manila, Philippines.
We find comfort in knowing that Papa’s legacy lives on through the lessons he taught us, the love he
shared and the memories he left us, which we will cherish forever.