Leonard Harold Taubman

Len was born in Brooklyn, New York on April 15, 1934. After Erasmus Hall High School, he went to the College of the City of New York (CCNY) earning both his Bachelor’s and Master’s of Civil Engineering and then to Hofstra for a Master of Business Administration.

Len had many varied careers throughout his lifetime. He went to work for Knappen, Tippetts, Abbot and McCarthy in the Special Designs Division. Later, he was recruited by the New York City Transit Authority to do special designs for the subway system. During his time there he obtained licenses as a Professional Engineer in both New York and New Jersey. After the Transit Authority, Len was accepted in the Advancement Program with New York Telephone. In that position he wrote a three-week Traffic Engineering course which he taught at West Point Academy for Engineering employees. He was then recruited to oversee the Traffic Engineering organization in Iran for American Bell International Inc. (ABII). It was there he met the love of his life, Joan Sullivan, whom he later married.

Upon returning to the USA, he advanced from Engineering to Marketing of Yellow Pages and finally, directing all National Media Relations. Len then negotiated Yellow Page contracts in Czechoslovakia and Poland. After winning the contract in Czechoslovakia he was elected President of the new subsidiary called Mediatel, which was a huge success exceeding revenue expectation by 125% and underrunning expense levels by 30%. He felt that his crowning achievement was taking it from the worst to the best organization for the company in one year. After completing that contract, Len retired in 1991 and started a corporation for computer training, primarily with Bell System companies, as well as Panasonic, Toys R Us, and Motorola.

Len and Joan moved to Ford’s Colony in Williamsburg, VA, where he started the Computer and Photography clubs and headed the Activities Committee overseeing all the colony’s clubs. Heavily involved in the community, he started a lunch group Called ROMEOS (Retired Old Men Eating Out) and was a well-known amateur photographer. You can view some of Len’s beautiful photos on his website www.lentaubman.com. He also served as an adjunct professor at both the Christopher Wren Association and Thomas Nelson Community College.

Len is survived by his beloved wife Joan, son Steven, daughter Donna Morelli, son-in-law Robert, and grandsons Matthew and Jared.

Donations may be made in his name to the Parkinson Voice Project (https://parkinsonvoiceproject.org/donate/).

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.NelsenWilliamsburg.com.