Obituary: Ethel Betty Flecker Taub

Ethel Betty Flecker Taub, of Highland Park, Ill., and Longboat Key, died March 27.

A lifelong baseball fan, Mrs. Taub was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., and grew up in Newark, N.J. She was the first woman to be admitted to Rutgers University as a business studies student, where she received the Outstanding Student Award. She completed her graduate studies in retailing at New York University and went on to serve on Rutgers’ Board of Trustees, where she received the Outstanding Alumnus Award.

Through her mother and brother, she met and married Ronald H. Taub, with whom she founded a point-of-sale advertising company, Creative Displays Inc., based in Chicago. She was the first woman to receive the Man-of-the-Year Award from the Point-of-Purchase Advertising Institute.

Mrs. Taub attended the executive program in the graduate school of business at the University of Chicago, where she was elected class president and was an Outstanding Alumnus.

She was a dedicated patron of various organizations, which included The Ravinia Festival, in Chicago, and The Sarasota Opera, Asolo Repertory Theatre, Ringling College of Art and Design, Sarasota Ballet and Circus Sarasota.

Mrs. Taub’s generosity extended to the Highland Park and Sarasota Memorial hospitals, where she not only gave of her money but personally delivered donuts and muffins.

She served on the Board of Directors of Beth El Congregation, in Highland Park, is a past president of Moriah Congregation, in Deerfield, Ill., and was a life member of Temple Beth Israel, on Longboat Key. In recognition of her service, she was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from Spertus College.

Mrs. Taub will be remembered by her friends and family for her great humor, kind smile, generosity and glamour. A world traveler, she collected many treasures from the countries she visited while leaving something positive behind.

Mrs. Taub is survived by her husband, Ronald; daughters, Liba Taub, of Cambridge, England, Marcia Jean Taub, of Chicago and Longboat Key, and Zisl Edelson, of Chicago; and four grandchildren. A celebration of her life will be announced at a later date.

Memorial donations may be made to the Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity, 555 Madison Ave., 20th Floor, New York, N.Y., 10022; The University of Pittsburgh Taub Scleroderma Research Laboratory, BST South Room 720, 3500 Terrace St., Pittsburgh, Pa., 15261; or to the charity of your choice.