Nicholas Frank Taubman (born 1935) is a United States businessman, politician, and ambassador. He served as the

United States Ambassador to Romania A United States diplomatic representative to Romania has existed since 1880. The United States formally recognized Romania in 1878, following the Treaty of Berlin; diplomatic relations were opened in 1880, and American diplomats were sent to the ...

2005–2008.United States Embassy in Bucharest: Ambassador
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Early life

Nicholas Taubman was born 1935 in

Roanoke, Virginia Roanoke ( ) is an independent city in the U.S. state of Virginia. At the 2020 census, the population was 100,011, making it the 8th most populous city in the Commonwealth of Virginia and the largest city in Virginia west of Richmond. It is lo ...

to parents Arthur Taubman and Grace. He graduated from

Mercersburg Academy Mercersburg Academy (formerly Marshall College and Mercersburg College) is an independent selective college-preparatory boarding & day high school in Mercersburg, Pennsylvania in the United States. Founded in 1893, the school enrolls approximat ...

, a private

college preparatory school A college-preparatory school (usually shortened to preparatory school or prep school) is a type of secondary school. The term refers to public, private independent or parochial schools primarily designed to prepare students for higher education ...

, in 1953, then attended the

Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania ( ; also known as Wharton Business School, the Wharton School, Penn Wharton, and Wharton) is the business school of the University of Pennsylvania, a Private university, private Ivy League rese ...

, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in economics. He served in the

U.S. Army The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, cl ...

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. (Advance) is an American automotive aftermarket parts provider. Headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina, it serves both professional installer and do it yourself (DIY) customers. As of July 13, 2019, Advance operated ...

, 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, rural 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 who served as the 43rd president of the United States from 2001 to 2009. A member of the Republican Party, Bush family, and son of the 41st president George H. W. Bush, he ...

in November 2005 and served until December 2008.

Philanthropy

Taubman and his wife 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. It was designed by architect Randall Stout. History In 1947, the Roanoke chapter of the American Associatio ...

References

1935 births Living people Ambassadors of the United States to Romania Jewish American military personnel Jewish American philanthropists United States Army soldiers Mercersburg Academy alumni Virginia Republicans Politicians from Roanoke, Virginia Virginia city council members Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania alumni 21st-century American Jews {{US-diplomat-stub

Early life

Business career

Politics

Philanthropy

See also

References