TAU Mourns Benefactor Adolfo M. Smolarz
Tel Aviv University mourns the passing on November 29 of Adolfo Smolarz, a TAU Honorary Doctor, Vice Chairman of the Board of Governors, and beloved and longtime supporter.
A self-made entrepreneur, he was one of Argentina’s most prominent advocates for Israel and Jewish causes. Adolfo was resolutely committed to perpetuating Jewish culture, tradition and continuity. He was also a staunch supporter of TAU, promoting the University in his home community of Buenos Aires and throughout Latin America.
In recognition of his role as a leading benefactor of Jewish and educational causes in Argentina and Israel and his support for TAU, the University awarded him an honorary doctorate in 1997. Together with his wife, Miriam, and his family, he backed a myriad of projects at the University, including the Smolarz Family Building, Pablo J. Smolarz Memorial Floor in the Trubowicz Building (Law), the Gitter-Smolarz Library of Life Sciences and Medicine, the Smolarz Family Graduate School of Life Sciences, and the Miriam and Adolfo Smolarz Auditorium, which has become a popular venue for national and international cultural events.
Adolfo and Miriam Smolarz celebrating Miriam’s 100th Birthday, May 2021
As a teenager, Adolfo read a book about the Holocaust, which profoundly influenced him and spurred him to become a Zionist. When Israel’s War of Independence began in 1948, Adolfo and Miriam spearheaded vital support efforts for the fledgling state from Argentina. Since then, they visited Israel every year. Adolfo dedicated himself to TAU among other causes in Israel because he believed it to be one of the "fundamental pillars of the existence of the State of Israel."
Adolfo Smolarz is survived by his wife, Miriam, their daughter Aida, grandchildren Tomas and Nicole, and great-grandchildren. Tel Aviv University sends its heartfelt condolences to his family and friends. Thanks to his extraordinary commitment to the University, his legacy will be felt on campus for years to come.
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