H. Ben Taub

H. Ben Taub, age 62, passed away Tuesday morning, the 20th of May 2014, in Houston Texas. A native Houstonian, Mr. Taub received his BBA with a concentration in Finance from the University of Texas at Austin. Following his graduation, Mr. Taub worked with his father Henry J. N. Taub and great uncle Ben Taub in managing the family business; in addition, he founded and operated several other successful businesses. Active in other realms of commerce, Mr. Taub also served on the Board of Directors of Texas Commerce Medical Bank. He was well known and respected as one of Houstonian’s active philanthropists and humanitarians, particularly in causes that supported children and medicine. Mr. Taub continued his family’s deep-rooted tradition of philanthropic activities in the community and generously supported numerous charitable organizations, various institutions of higher education, hospitals and libraries.

In honoring his beloved mother and father, Mr. Taub organized with his sister and brother a gift of a new Gymnasium and Theater bearing the name of their parents “The Carol and Henry J. N. Taub Gymnasium and Theater” to Deer Park ISD for the new San Jacinto Elementary School. Most recently, after being approached by St. John’s School, Mr. Taub, together with his siblings abandoned a major real estate development to make available, as part-gift and part-sale, the schools new West Campus, to be named the Carol and Henry J. N. Taub Campus. This is the largest single gift made to St. John’s School.

As exemplified by his extended tenures on various boards, Mr. Taub was known for his sense of duty and service. Mr. Taub served on the Board of Directors Baylor College of Medicine and was a member of the Investment Committee. Taking a personal interest with his commitment to the various foundations, he served as chairman of the Harris County Hospital District Foundation for twelve years, president of the Baylor Medical Foundation for sixteen years, trustee of the Taub Foundation, and the Pauline Sterne Wolff Memorial Foundation. Mr. Taub was also proud to serve on a variety of other organizations. In 2012, he was awarded the Mayors Volunteer Houston Lifetime Achievement Award.

Mr. Taub loved life, the outdoors, his family and friends. He also adored his horses and polo. He was elected Southwestern Circuit Governor of the United States Polo Association (USPA) from 1998-2008.

Mr. Taub was predeceased by mother, Carol Ellen Joseloff Taub, father, Henry J. N. Taub and uncle, John Ben Taub. He is survived by his sister, Marcy Taub Wessel; his brother, Henry J. N. Taub II; his brother-in-law, Thomas Freimuth Wessel; his nephews, Henry Taub Wessel and Maxwell Elliot Wessel; his niece, Lauren Elisabeth Wessel; his Aunt Mrs. Bernhard L. Kohn, Sr.; his cousins Bernhard L. Kohn Jr, Bernhard L. Kohn III, Kathryn K. Rieger, Kimberly M. Frezados, Elizabeth A. Kohn and Michael B. Massius; his Aunt Carolyn Taub; his cousins, John Taub, Jr., Casey C. Taub, Margie Brown, and Risa McDonald; his girlfriend Lori Cooley and her two daughters Morgan Cooley Koster and Karlah Cooley Downing.

The visitation will be from five o’clock in the afternoon until seven o’clock in the evening on Thursday, the 22nd of May, in the library and grand foyer of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston.

The Funeral Service will be conducted at one o’clock on Friday afternoon, the 23rd of May 2014, at Congregation Beth Israel, 5600 North Braeswood Boulevard in Houston.

Honoring Mr. Taub and serving as pallbearers include: Martin Adams, Stedman Adams, Dr. David S. Baskin, Michael S. Chadwick, Jenard M. Gross, Bernhard L. Kohn, Jr., Bernhard L. Kohn, III, William George Marlin, Jr., Dr. Kenneth L. Mattox, Marc J. Shapiro, William Lane,

Robin French, Thomas Freimuth Wessel, Maxwell Elliot Wessel, Henry Taub Wessel, David Bates, Cletus Brown III, Jay Houren, Wicky el-Effendi, Timothy D. Kenneally, Michael B. Massius, Meredith T. Cullen, Dr. Stuart Yudofsky, Paul W. Hobby, Gene Fortuno, Kevin Tegg, Logan Johnson, Paul Barnhart, Mark Stammey, Dr. Mathew W Plummer and Elvin Franklin.

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Honorary Pallbearers: All Trustees of the: Baylor College of Medicine, Harris County Hospital District Foundation, The Pauline Sterne Wolff Memorial Foundation, Baylor Medical Foundation, Major Freeman Martin, Texas Rangers Company “A”, All Rangers from Company “A” Texas Rangers.

A private entombment will follow, via an escorted cortege, in the Temple of Rest Mausoleum at Beth Israel Cemetery at West Dallas, 1207 West Dallas Street in Houston.

In lieu of usual remembrances, memorials may be directed to the Carol and Henry J. N. Taub Memorial Library or the Carol and Henry J. N. Taub Campus at St. John’s School, 2401 Claremont Lane., Houston, TX, 77019; the Ben Taub and Henry J. N. Taub Wall of Memories at the DePelchin Children’s Center, 4950 Memorial Dr., Houston, TX, 77007; the Carol and Henry J. N. Taub Gymnasium and Theater at Deer Park San Jacinto Elementary School; Henry J N Taub Trauma Endowment fund at Harris County Hospital District Foundation; or to the Baylor Medical Foundation, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX.