Spotlight on.Rovin' Reuvin
City Historian: Richard C. Schulman
By Luz Urbáez Weinberg

He is the Rovin' Reuvin who gives you all the 'need-to-know' on city events. Rovin' Reuvin is a rare breed - the kind you don't find around South Florida much lately: a native Miamian!

Born in Miami, Florida, Richard Schulman was destined for spotlight since birth. Being the son of a musical-minded father and an incredible communicator homemaker mother, Schulman was learning musical instruments by age five, namely the bugle, which he quickly mastered. By age 6, Schulman was on a national tour performing for 100,000 WWII servicemen throughout the United States. He learned to play the trumpet at 8, and by 15 years of age had landed a spot on the Ted Mack Amateur hour national radio show. He walked away with a win after performing 'The Flight of the Bumble Bee.'

Schulman is a proud graduate of Miami Senior High School where he was an avid participant of band and orchestra. So great was his love of music and entertainment that Schulman went on to study trumpet at the Julliard School of Music, and later earned a 4-year music scholarship to the University of Miami where he majored in Radio and T.V. Production. Post graduation, Schulman joined the Production Assistance team at WCKT, now known as WSVN-Channel 7, and was one of the first employees at the now popular TV station.

The year of 1958 put Schulman's entertainment career on pause when he joined the family banking business at Biscayne Federal Savings and Loan. As with every other undertaking, Schulman excelled with the family's business and was instrumental in expansion efforts with the opening of 24 branches around South Florida. Schulman became Senior Vice President of Biscayne Federal in 1972. He later went on to become the Supervisor of Treasury, Finance and Investments at Citicorp - one of the largest financial institutions in the United States.

Retirement from the banking industry arrived for Schulman in 1988. Schulman pondered and wondered what life would offer him next. He happily found himself back in the world of entertainment as a Host for Discovery Cruises - a job he performed proudly and with much fun for two years.

In 1991, six years before the City of Sunny Isles Beach would be realized, Schulman moved into the sunny area by the sea, finding home in a comfy condo at Winston Towers where he still resides to this day. Schulman fell in love with the area, and knew it possessed great potential. He began to get involved and meeting different people, one of whom was David Samson, first mayor and one of the founders of City of Sunny Isles. By late '96, the two had become close and shared a vision of greatness for the city. Schulman was named City Historian in 1998. For the last six years, it has been Schulman's honor to maintain the sunny city's history and serve as liaison to the city commission. He has authored seven Sunny Isles Beach history books. Schulman's latest project is a 20-year 'Time Capsule' that will perpetuate vital historical documents and information. Schulman is also the chief invocator at the city commission meetings, and invocator for the monthly Concerned Citizens meeting.

"I am very pleased with my accomplishments in life and I don't plan on stopping. Giving back to my community, to my home, it keeps me young. I have a lot more to offer to this city. I have been very fortunate to be connected with Sunny Isles Beach. I can visualize a progressive, energetic and vibrant city in the not so distant future, that will be the jewel of South Florida," said Schulman.

 

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