Farewell to Honorary Patron, Howard Kaufmann

In early February, the NIADA family mourned the passing of second-generation Honorary Patron Howard Kaufmann, one of our longtime members. Howard and his wife, Beverly, joined NIADA as patrons in 1988. Known as “Howie and Bev” to those who knew them, the congenial couple made lifelong friendships in the NIADA community while enthusiastically supporting the art of the doll.

“I first met Bev and Howie Kaufmann in 2011 at the Denver NIADA conference, where they approached my gallery piece and asked if they could buy it,” recalls NIADA artist Stephanie Blythe. “I later learned that they were second-generation NIADA patrons and had an amazing collection of which I am proud to be a part. That was the beginning of their patronage and a wonderful friendship.”

“Family illnesses often prevented Bev and Howie from attending conferences,” Stephanie continues, “but they always showed support by sending helper donations and buying ads for our conference journals. What I will remember most about Howie is his warm smile and kindness.”

When the Kaufmanns were unable to attend events, they kept NIADA up-to-date on their life’s joys and challenges. While going through our informal NIADA newsletters from the early 1990s, I learned that the couple’s daughter Bonnie headed off to college in 1991, and that Beverly lost her father in 1993. Two years later, it was all good news: Bonnie had earned her degree and was engaged, while younger brother Andy had graduated from high school.

NIADA was always a family affair for the Kaufmanns: it was Howard’s father, Bernard Kaufmann, who kindled the passion for art dolls. A longtime NIADA patron, he served as a board member in the organization’s early years and contributed his expertise to NIADA’s burgeoning plans. In her article about the Kaufmanns in the October 2022 issue of NIADA Artist News, patron Gracie Coleman described Bernie as a generous man who “amassed a very large and impressive collection of the early works of NIADA artists, including commissioned portrait dolls of members of the Kaufmann family.”

Howard and Beverly inherited Bernie’s collection and expanded it with their own favorites. Yet while Howard treasured the dolls, the friendships with the artists who created them was always of the greatest value.

“I will miss Howie,” says NIADA artist Susan Scogin. “At every conference I attended, I had dinner with Howie and Beverly. “They were very pleasant and we shared many opinions. What lovely people! I even visited them at their home in Florida.”

The collective heart of NIADA goes out to Beverly and the Kaufmann family during this difficult time.
You can read more about Howard and Beverly in Gracie Coleman’s article from the October 2022 NIADA Artist News and in Howard’s memorial online.

Louise Fecher, Patron-Associate Director