Cranbrook Mourns the Passing of Julia Reyes Taubman

It is with heavy hearts that Cranbrook mourns the loss of Julia Reyes Taubman, a staunch supporter of the arts and a member of the Cranbrook Academy of Art and Art Museum Board of Governors since 2003.

In addition to her support of Cranbrook, Taubman was a founder and Board Chairman of the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit (MOCAD). She was also an accomplished photographer, publishing the book “Detroit: 138 Square Miles” in 2012, featuring photos of the blight and beauty of Detroit. As Elmore Leonard wrote in the forward, “In Julia’s composition, there is beauty in despair, and sometimes a glimmer of hope.”

She is survived by her husband, Robert S. Taubman, her children Ghislaine, Sebastian and Theodore, and Alexander Alfred; father Joseph; and brothers M. Jude, J. Christopher, David, James, Thomas and William Reyes.

“I have only known Julie for a few years, but even in our initial meeting, her love and support of the arts shone through brightly,” said Chris Scoates, Maxine and Stuart Frankel Director of Cranbrook Academy of Art and Art Museum. “As a benefactor of the school and museum, Julie helped to fund difficult and challenging projects. Yet, it was the time, energy and expertise she brought to the table that was most valuable. The entire community is mourning this difficult loss today.”

Visitation will be from 4-8pm Tuesday at the A.J. Desmond and Sons Funeral Home in Royal Oak, Michigan. The funeral will now be held at Temple Beth El (7400 Telegraph Rd., Bloomfield Hills, MI 48301) on Wednesday at 3pm, and the family will receive friends from 5-9pm at the Townsend Hotel in Birmingham.

The family asks that contributions be considered to the University of Michigan’s A. Alfred Taubman Medical Research Institute.