Barton “Bart” Kaufman, a former IU baseball player who’s the namesake of IU’s baseball stadium, died Tuesday at his home in Phoenix. He was 83 years old.
Kaufman, who was born in Shelbyville, Indiana, earned All-Big Ten honors twice and was the second-leading hitter in the conference in 1961. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in life insurance in 1962 before graduating from the Indiana University School of Law in 1965.
After leaving Bloomington, he joined his father, Nate, in business. Kaufman’s father founded and served as the chairman of Kaufman Financial Corporation. After his father’s death in 1981, Kaufman has since served as the chairman and CEO of the corporation, which provides wealth transfer strategies to families in the U.S.
According to his obituary, he was active in philanthropies such as the Indiana University Foundation, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and the Congregation Beth-El Zedeck. At IU, he fundraised for the Helene G. Simon Hillel Center, the Bess Meshulam Simon Music Library and Recital Center, Simon Hall and the Bren Simon Cancer Center.
In February 2012, Indiana Athletics announced that its new baseball facility would be named Bart Kaufman Field in honor of Kaufman’s monetary donation to Indiana Athletics.
Kaufman and his wife, Judy, have four children and 15 grandchildren.
