"He loved where he grew up and that's where
his heart and soul were, from his birth until
the end of his life, where he passed away
peacefully in his own home, surrounded by his
family."
– Robert Nederlander Sr., a major theater
developer, who grew up in Pontiac near Taubman
metro
AJC Detroit Regional Office
Joins with the Jewish people in
mourning the loss of
Mr. A. Alfred Taubman
May his example continue
to inspire us to make this world
a safer place for
the Jewish Community
and all people—
here in Detroit, in the United States,
and throughout the world.
AJC
Global Jewish
Advocacy
Mogul and Mentsh from page 9
embryonic stem cell research, the passage
of which Mr. Taubman played a key role,
led to the creation of the Consortium for
Stem Cell Therapies, a program of the
Taubman Research Institute. The consor-
tium has since become a recognized lead-
er in the field, developing one of the first
embryonic stem cell lines in the country
Feldman is currently working with an
Israeli physician, a pioneer in stem cell
research, on a new treatment for patients
with ALS.
"It offers a bold and transformative
approach to this disease, which is exactly
what Alfred expected of the Taubman
Institute she said.
Mr. Taubman's daughter, Gayle
Kalisman, serves as co-chair of the
Institute's Leadership Advisory Board.
Other significant gifts from Mr.
Taubman to U-M include a $30 million
donation to what is now the A. Alfred
Taubman College of Architecture and
Urban Planning, and a subsequent dona-
tion to expand the Art and Architecture
Building to include the A. Alfred
Taubman Wing. Several other campus
buildings are named in his honor, includ-
ing the A. Alfred Taubman Health Care
Center, the Taubman Health Sciences
Library and the A. Alfred Taubman
Galleries at the U-M Museum of Art.
Because Mr. Taubman believed giving
of himself was as important as monetary
gifts, he was serving as vice chair of a $4
billion fundraising campaign to help the
university increase student scholarships,
among other goals.
"He was a great man — successful,
generous and warm:' said U-M President
Mark Schlissel in a statement. "But he
also was someone who held all those
around him to high standards. He helped
drive excellence at Michigan, not just
through his philanthropy, but also by the
advice he gave to multiple presidents and
the fact that he held us to account to get
the very most out of everything we did:'
Lawrence Technological University in
Southfield also received generous sup-
port from Mr. Taubman, a student there
in the 1940s.
According to LTU President Virinder
K. Moudgil, Mr. Taubman returned fre-
quently to teach classes, sponsor exhibi-
tions and lectures, provide public art on
campus, and inspire students and faculty.
He became one of the university's most
generous benefactors, providing the lead
gifts for the innovative Taubman Student
Services Center and the Taubman
Complex for Engineering, Life Sciences
and Architecture, which is expected to
open next year. In true Taubman style,
he augmented his financial gifts by tak-
ing an active role in the architecture and
design of both buildings.
"Mr. Taubman's generosity has assured
that many future generations of LTU
students and scholars will have access to
outstanding educations and facilities,"
Moudgil said. "We are forever grateful for
his kindness, friendship and support:'
Mr. Taubman also contributed $15
Mogul And Mentsh on page 12
www.ajc.org
Kari Alterman
Regional Director
Howard Brown
Board President
Todd Mendel
President-Elect
Close friends: Judge Damon Keith and Alfred Taubman.
10