NSU Remembers Dear Friend Don Taft at Celebration of Life

(Photo caption: NSU President George L. Hanbury II speaks during the Celebration of Life for Don Taft.)

Nova Southeastern University and Special Olympics Broward County recently commemorated the wonderful life of Don Taft, who was a great friend, philanthropist, business leader, amazing supporter of the community and university, and namesake of NSU’s Don Taft University Center.

Though saddened by Mr. Taft’s passing, Special Olympics athletes, NSU’s students, faculty and staff, and other community supporters joined together to remember and honor the benefactor during the February 28 celebration of his life and legacy.

The commemoration featured tributes by NSU Chancellor Ray Ferrero, Jr. and NSU President George L. Hanbury II, as well as Special Olympics Broward County Athlete Leadership Chair Richard Kodish, friends Paul and Patrick Sallarulo, and Fort Lauderdale Mayor Jack Seiler who read a proclamation in Mr. Taft’s honor.

More than 330 attended the bittersweet memorial, which featured video clips, a photo montage set to “Danny Boy” sung by iconic songstress Connie Francis, and a reception including some of Mr. Taft’s favorite foods.

During his life Mr. Taft spent more than 50 years as a distinguished business leader, having founded and managed both private and publicly traded companies. He also supported many of South Florida’s most worthwhile causes, and held a very special place in his heart for Special Olympics. He had a special interest in athletes and in special needs youngsters, and found a way to combine the two by helping Special Olympics Broward County (SOBC) find a new, permanent home here at NSU. It was through this relationship that in 2009, the Don Taft Foundation made a generous gift to NSU, and the 366,000 square-foot Don Taft University Center was named in his honor.

Now NSU is the only private college in the nation to have a Special Olympics chapter located on its campus, and the NSU community is proud that the university’s Division II athletic teams call the Don Taft University Center home.

Don Taft’s life was also recently commemorated in South Florida’s local newspapers. Read more from the Miami Herald and the Sun-Sentinel.