Elliot Taubman

STORRS

Elliot Taubman, a larger than life personality and a kind soul who reveled in building and sustaining communities, large and small. He will be sorely missed by all who loved him.

He was the second child of William and Miriam Toubman, was born in Hartford, CT. Elliot went to E.O. Smith High School in Storrs, CT. He excelled in math which allowed him to receive an academic scholarship to Dartmouth College. While there he made lifelong friends, but left because there were no women. He then attended the University of Connecticut completing both his undergraduate degree and Law School. Following Law School, he began a career fighting for justice. He won one of the first transgender rights cases while working at Neighborhood Legal Services in Hartford, CT. He moved to the legal services program Legacy Inc, in Norwich and New London, where he fought for tenants rights and the rights of welfare, Medicaid and unemployment beneficiaries and utility customers.

In his next position, Elliot spearheaded the energy and utilities rate design unit at the National Consumer Law Center in Boston. In the late-70s, Elliot was in charge of energy and utilities as an Assistant Attorney General in New Mexico and then in New York. In 1982, Elliot left New York for fulltime life on Block Island, RI where he worked on low income housing, nature conservation and alternative energy issues while running a one-person law practice and being deeply involved in various nonprofit groups. Along with other founding members, Elliot helped establish the congregation Sons and Daughters of Ruth, where he was a cantor. Elliot was a Renaissance man, his interests included art, winemaking and family ancestry. He would talk about these and other topics to anyone who would listen.

He is survived by this wife, Jennifer lee and daughter, Rebekka Kai. Along with his five siblings, Andrea White, of San Antonio, TX, Allan and Kathy Toubman of Camden, ME, Steve and Manena Toubman of Ashford, CT, Ilene and Mark Coman of Portland, CT, Sheldon Toubman and Claire Morduch of Guilford, CT, and their children and grandchildren; along with many cousins in the Giber/Lappen clan who all grew up in the Hartford/West Hartford area.

Donations in Elliot's memory can be made to the Mary D. Fund PO Box #323, Block Island, RI 02807 or World Central Kitchen at wck.org or World Central Kitchen, Attn: Donor Services Team, PO Box 96538, Washington DC 20090-6538.

Elliot Taubman