Nicholas Frank Taubman (born 1935) is a United States businessman, politician, and ambassador. He served as the
United States Ambassador to Romania 2005–2008.
[United States Embassy in Bucharest: Ambassador](_blank)
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Early life
Nicholas Taubman was born 1935 in Roanoke, Virginia
Roanoke ( ) is an Independent city (United States), independent city in Virginia, United States. It lies in Southwest Virginia, along the Roanoke River, in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Blue Ridge range of the greater Appalachian Mountains. Roanok ...
to parents Arthur Taubman and Grace. He graduated from Mercersburg Academy
Mercersburg Academy (formerly Marshall College and Mercersburg College) is an independent college-preparatory boarding and day high school in Mercersburg, Pennsylvania, in the United States. Founded in 1893, the school enrolls approximately 4 ...
, a private college preparatory school
A college-preparatory school (often shortened to prep school, preparatory school, college prep school or college prep academy) is a type of secondary school. The term refers to public, private independent or parochial schools primarily design ...
, in 1953, then attended the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania
The Wharton School ( ) is the business school of the University of Pennsylvania, a private Ivy League research university in Philadelphia. Established in 1881 through a donation from Joseph Wharton, a co-founder of Bethlehem Steel, the Wharton ...
, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in economics.U.S. Army
The United States Army (USA) is the primary land service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is designated as the Army of the United States in the United States Constitution.Article II, section 2, clause 1 of the United Stat ...
from 1957 to 1958, and from 1960 to 1961.
Business career
From 1969 to 2005, Taubman served as President and CEO of Advance Auto Parts
Advance Auto Parts, Inc. is an American automotive aftermarket parts provider. Headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina, it serves professional installer and do it yourself (DIY) customers.
Company History
In April 1932, Arthur Taubman purch ...
, a chain of auto parts stores founded by his father Arthur Taubman.
Politics
Taubman served on the Roanoke City Council
A municipal council is the legislative body of a municipality or local government area. Depending on the location and classification of the municipality it may be known as a city council, town council, town board, community council, borough counc ...
from 1976 to 1978.
Taubman was appointed U.S. Ambassador to Romania by President George W. Bush
George Walker Bush (born July 6, 1946) is an American politician and businessman who was the 43rd president of the United States from 2001 to 2009. A member of the Bush family and the Republican Party (United States), Republican Party, he i ...
in November 2005 and served until December 2008.
Philanthropy
Taubman and his wife Eugenia (Jenny) are the largest donors to the new Art Museum of Western Virginia, having pledged over $15 million. In recognition, the new museum was renamed the Taubman Museum of Art
The Taubman Museum of Art, formerly the Art Museum of Western Virginia, is an art museum in downtown Roanoke, Virginia, United States. Formally established in 1951, the museum was housed in several locations around Roanoke before moving in 2008 t ...
. He is on the board of the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History Their gift funded the Nicholas F. and Eugenia Taubman Gallery of the museum.
See also
U.S. Department of State – Biography of Nicholas Frank Taubman
References
1935 births
Living people
Ambassadors of the United States to Romania
Jewish American military personnel
American philanthropists
United States Army soldiers
Mercersburg Academy alumni
Virginia Republicans
Politicians from Roanoke, Virginia
Virginia city council members
Wharton School alumni
21st-century American Jews
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