after the death of long-time president reuben guskin in 1951, the union was led by elected volunteer presidents, many of whom were active in the yiddish theater. these included herman yablokoff, composer of the hit song "papirosn" (cigarettes), the broadway and yiddish stage actor bernard sauer (1986 until his death in 1991) and singer and performer seymour rexite, who was the last president of the union from 1991 until his death at age 91 in 2002. after rexite’s death, the union’s leadership passed to one-time yiddish performer ruth ellen, who served as acting head until october 2005, when it was declared defunct by its parent union, the associated actors and artistes of america. as of february 15, 2008, it was still listed in the afl-cio's online list of affiliates. the union filed a terminal report with the department of labor, dated fiscal year 2013.