Remembering Tad Taube

We grieve the passing of Tad Taube, philanthropist, advocate, and friend of the Magnes Collection of Jewish Art and Life at UC Berkeley. Born in Kraków, Poland in 1931, Tad immigrated to the United States in the spring of 1939, just months before the outbreak of World War II. He later earned his BS and MS degrees from Stanford University, served as an officer in the U.S. Air Force, and built a successful career in real estate and investments before dedicating himself to philanthropy. His life was defined by resilience, generosity, and a calling to help others, which greatly influenced the Magnes Collection. 

“Tad understood that a community’s investment in museums like the Magnes is critical to furthering their educational mission and sustaining a sound cultural institution. Tad was an inspiration to all of us and a visionary for future generations.”  — Barry Cohn, Board President, Magnes Museum Foundation

Long before the Magnes Collection of Jewish Art and Life became part of UC Berkeley, Tad was a leading supporter and donor to the museum. His commitment to Jewish culture helped sustain the Magnes in its earlier years and laid the groundwork for its successful transition to the University.

Tad was instrumental in bringing the Magnes to UC Berkeley, recognizing the importance of safeguarding one of the largest Jewish collections in the world at a major research university. His leadership made it possible for the Magnes to thrive in its new home, serving students, scholars, and the public through providing access to its precious holdings and dynamic programming. Today, the Magnes is accessible to the campus’s 40,000 students, faculty, and staff, as well as the broader public and remains the only museum of its kind at a public university in the United States. 

“The Magnes would not be what it is today without Tad Taube. His vision aligned the museum’s mission with Berkeley’s values of access, diversity, and public knowledge. Thanks to his generosity, the Magnes stands among the world’s great Jewish collections, and we are honored to carry his legacy forward.”  — Hannah Weisman, Executive Director of the Magnes

“Tad’s commitment to telling the history of the Jewish people has been demonstrated over and over again during the last few decades. When the opportunity to link the Magnes Museum with the University of California, Berkeley arose, Tad was ‘all in.’  He saw the opportunity to merge a magnificent collection of Jewish art and history with a world-class institution,” said Barry Cohn, president of the Magnes Museum Foundation board. “Tad understood that a community’s investment in museums like the Magnes is critical to furthering their educational mission and sustaining a sound cultural institution. Tad was an inspiration to all of us and a visionary for future generations.”

For decades, Tad supported the ongoing operations of the museum, ensuring its ability to serve both campus and community. His most significant contribution came in 2017, with a $10.1 million grant from Taube Philanthropies for the Magnes to acquire the Taube Family Arthur Szyk Collection. The grant, the largest single monetary gift to acquire art in the history of the University, provided public access to 450 artworks by painter and illustrator Arthur Szyk for the first time and led to the development of a traveling exhibition that reached more than 300,000 people across the United States.

“Tad Taube’s life was shaped by a deep dedication to preserving Jewish life, culture, and knowledge. He ensured that the Magnes’s collections, including his landmark 2017 Szyk gift, would be preserved, studied, and shared with the world for generations.” — Sara Guyer, Dean of the Division of Arts & Humanities, UC Berkeley

“The Magnes would not be what it is today without Tad Taube. His vision aligned the museum’s mission with Berkeley’s values of access, diversity, and public knowledge. Thanks to his generosity, the Magnes stands among the world’s great Jewish collections, and we are honored to carry his legacy forward,” said Hannah Weisman, Executive Director of the Magnes. 

He also played a crucial role in supporting the creation of the current executive director position at the Magnes, providing the leadership foundation that continues to guide the museum today. His belief in the power of museums and collections as living, evolving institutions shaped the Magnes’s identity and secured its future for generations to come.

“Tad Taube’s life was shaped by a deep dedication to preserving Jewish life, culture, and knowledge. He ensured that the Magnes’s collections, including his landmark 2017 Szyk gift, would be preserved, studied, and shared with the world for generations,” said Sara Guyer, Dean of the Division of Arts & Humanities.

The Magnes and UC Berkeley mourn Tad’s death and extend deepest condolences to the Taube family. Tad Taube is survived by his wife of 28 years, Dianne, and his six children.