Adolf Alfred Taubman, an American entrepreneur and philanthropist, revolutionized the retail industry with his visionary concept of shopping malls. From humble beginnings, he rose to become a magnate in the field, creating a global empire worth billions of dollars. His innovative designs and dedication to his craft transformed the lives of countless individuals, while his philanthropic efforts made a significant impact in the areas of health, education, and the arts. Taubman’s remarkable journey from rags to riches serves as an inspiration to all.
Quick Facts
- Also Known As: Adolph Alfred Taubman, Al Taubman
- Died At Age: 91
- Family:
- Spouse/Ex-: Judith (Mazor) Rounick, Reva Kolodney (1948-1977; divorced)
- Father: Philip Taubman
- Mother: Fannie Taubman
- Children: Gayle Taubman Kalisman, Robert S. Taubman, William S. Taubman
- Investors
- Philanthropists
- Died on: April 17, 2015
- Place of death: Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, United States
- Notable Alumni: Lawrence Technological University
- Cause of Death: Heart Attack
- U.S. State: Michigan
- More Facts
- Education: University Of Michigan, Lawrence Technological University
Early Life & Childhood
A. Alfred Taubman was born on January 31, 1924 in Pontiac, Michigan to Philip Taubman and Fannie Taubman. His father was a fruit farmer in the Wilson Foundry Company and his mother was his father’s second cousin. He had three siblings, including a sister named Goldye Taubman and two brothers named Samuel Taubman and Lester Taubman. His parents were Jewish immigrants from Białystok, Poland. They were greatly affected by the Depression of the 1930s and lost everything.
Education and Military Service
Taubman started working at the age of eleven in a departmental store after school hours. After graduating from high school, he attended the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. However, his studies were interrupted by the outbreak of World War II and he joined the military service. He enlisted in the Army and served with the Thirteenth Air Force in the Pacific theater. After the war, he returned to the university to resume his studies of art and architecture. He also took up various jobs to cover his expenses and was eventually transferred to Lawrence University in his third year.
Career
In 1950, Taubman started his own real estate development company, the Taubman Company. His first project was designing a freestanding bridal shop in Detroit. The company soon flourished and began working on larger retail projects and hotels. In the mid-1950s, they developed two strip shopping centers in Michigan. In 1959, the company started the development of Arborland Center in Michigan, its first large shopping center project. It opened in 1961 and the company has continued to develop high-end shopping centers ever since.
In 1982, Taubman bought the A&W Restaurants franchise and in 1983, he took over the international auction house, Sotheby’s. In the early 2000s, his company Sotheby’s was accused of price fixing with rival auction house, Christie’s, and he was imprisoned for 10 months for anti-trust violations. He served on the board of directors of several major corporations throughout his lifetime. In 2007, he published his autobiography, ‘Threshold Resistance: The Extraordinary Career of a Luxury Retailing Pioneer’.
Awards & Achievements
Taubman was on the list of Forbes 400 Richest Americans for two decades. He received honorary degrees from several universities and received numerous awards and citations, including the ‘Urban Land Institute Lifetime Achievement Award’ and the ‘Detroit News Michiganian of the Year’ award.
Personal Life & Legacy
In 1948, Taubman married his college lover, Reva Kolodney, and they had three children together. They divorced in 1977. In 1982, he married Judith Mazor Rounick, the Miss Israel of 1962. Taubman was a leading philanthropist and was active in civic and cultural affairs. He made major funding contributions to institutions of higher learning in the United States and was the largest donor in the University of Michigan’s history. In 1999, he provided major funding to the College of Architecture and Urban Planning at the University of Michigan, which is now known as A. Alfred Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning. Taubman passed away on April 17, 2015 at the age of 91.