Douglas “Doug” Taub passed away at home in Norwood, New Jersey on July 9, 2024, after a brief illness. Doug was born on January 20, 1954, in Englewood, New Jersey.
Doug will be loved and missed forever by the love of his life and soulmate, Phaedra Britt. Doug and Phaedra met at Pace Law School in 1999 and were married on October 27, 2001. Throughout their 25 years together, Doug and Phaedra were the best of friends and partners in every way.
Doug is survived by his mother-in-law Marie Britt; father-in-law John Britt; brother-in-law Michael Britt; nephew Jayden Britt and niece Isabella Britt; childhood friends Arthur Romano, Michael Amatulli and Kip Hoskin; and goddaughter Lindsey Romano. Doug leaves behind many friends, colleagues and clients, all of whom loved and respected him for his generosity and kindness.
Doug was a silver-tongued orator with a rapier wit and expressive personality. Doug’s off-beat perspective provided a refreshing viewpoint and reliable counterbalance to any conversation or situation. Whether he was making us laugh or shocking us with an unconventional analysis, Doug entertained us constantly and with aplomb. Doug was a sharp dresser who was often seen wearing his Clark Gable hat. His thick, dark hair made him the envy of follically-challenged men everywhere.
Doug graduated from Wayne Hills High School in 1972. After a brief attendance at Jacksonville University, Doug joined his family’s corrugated box manufacturing business in Montgomery, New York, where he managed both operations and sales. In the mid 1990’s, Doug left the box business and pursued his dream of becoming a lawyer. He received his undergraduate degree from Fairleigh Dickinson in 1997 then immediately enrolled in Pace Law School at the age of 43.
After graduating law school, Doug worked as an associate practicing bankruptcy law at a firm in Rockland County, New York, before becoming a solo practitioner in 2003. Doug’s law practice focused on criminal defense and representing the underdog. He enjoyed practicing in White Plains City Court and Hastings-on-Hudson Justice Court. Phaedra joined him in his practice in 2007 and they formed the law firm of Britt & Taub, PLLC. Doug and Phaedra practiced together, side by side, for seven years. After Phaedra left the practice in 2015, Doug continued as a solo practitioner until his passing in 2024.
Doug was a lifelong musician. He played guitar, bass and piano. His love of guitar playing began at age 10, when he watched in awe as the Beatles performed on the Ed Sullivan Show on February 9, 1964. Starting in middle school and throughout his life, Doug played bass guitar in many rock-and-roll bands. In 1978, Doug and his friends, Mike Amatulli, Brian Murphy and Jim Pardo formed the GoghVans. Years later, in 1992, Doug, Mike and Brian joined musical forces again in Murph the Surf and the Family Jewels. Doug and Mike later performed as the “Diamond Boys” with their former GoghVans bandmate, Jim. After starting his solo practice and joining the legal community in White Plains, Doug played his bass in bands with his attorney and court officer friends in Westchester County. In 2018, Doug joined School’s Out, an Alice Cooper tribute band. The most exciting moment in Doug’s music career was his first gig with School’s Out, which was at The Chance in Poughkeepsie.
Doug was proud of his accomplishments as a Formula Ford racecar driver from the late 1970s through the early 1990s. Doug raced on weekends with his close friend and fellow racing enthusiast, Kip Hoskin, in Mont-Tremblant, Canada. In addition to Doug’s behind-the-wheel experience, he was a Formula One aficionado. Although Doug owned many sports cars throughout the years, his 2017 Maximum Steel Metallic Dodge Challenger R/T was his pride and joy. Doug maintained his Hemi in pristine condition, even as a daily driver, and found a multitude of ways to increase the horsepower. After Doug brought the Challenger into the family, Doug and Phaedra attended car shows and car cruises whenever and wherever possible.
In Doug’s last email to a court, Doug explained that he had just been released from the hospital after major surgery and was unable to appear with his client in court later that week. In the email, Doug quoted his hero, John Lennon: “Life is what happens when you are busy making other plans.”
A memorial gathering will be held on Saturday, November 2, 2024, from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Pizzi Funeral Home, 120 Paris Avenue, Northvale, NJ.
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