Rice University distinguished alumna and longtime benefactor Nancy Moore Eubank passed away peacefully after a brief illness on February 16, 2024. She was 90.
Nancy and her husband J. Thomas Eubank have fiercely supported the Center for Computational Finance and Economic Systems (CoFES) and its programs in education and research.
“CoFES and the Rice community are deeply saddened by Nancy’s passing. She will be remembered for her passion to serve others, dedication to higher education and efforts to strengthen institutions,” said Katherine Ensor, the Noah G. Harding Professor of Statistics and CoFES director.
Nancy was born in Memphis, TN. At a young age, her family moved to Jacksonville, Florida where she graduated from Landon High School.
In 1955, she graduated Phi Beta Kappa with a B.A. in romance languages from Rice (formerly known as the "Rice Institute"). That year she also received the university’s Undergraduate Service Award for her numerous officer roles in student government and clubs.
Nancy met the love of her life when she went on a blind date with a newly licensed Baker & Botts attorney and Rice graduate named J. Thomas Eubank. One year later, she and Tom were married. They celebrated their 68th wedding anniversary this year.
Tom was a Rice trustee advisor and a Board of Governors member between 1985 and 1991. In the 1960s he played a pivotal role in the history of Rice by establishing the legal grounds upon which Rice admitted its first minority students. He also authored the legal work that enabled Rice to change its name from the Rice Institute to Rice University. Tom received the Rice University Gold Medal Award in 1992.
Together they sponsored the first Eubank Conference on Real World Markets in 2009 and in 2013 the Eubanks established The Nancy M. and J. Thomas Eubank Research Excellence Fund in Computational Statistics, which supports research and programs related to real-world financial markets, the biannual Eubank Conference on Real World Markets, and the CoFES Prize in Computational Statistics.
Due to the Eubank’s generous support, CoFES will host the 11th Eubank Conference this April 22 to discuss emerging trends in real estate investment and assess the interplay between real estate and the dynamic insurance climate.
“We are exceedingly grateful to the Eubanks for their dedication and support and plan to celebrate them at the conference in April,” said Ensor.
Throughout her active life, Nancy served on numerous Rice boards, including the Association of Rice Alumni Board, the Rice University Fund Council, the Shepherd School and the Friends of Fondren Boards, and her Golden Anniversary Class Scholarship Committee. She was Dean of Women from 1959 to 1961 and was as an alumni interviewer for many years. In 1996, she received the university’s Meritorious Service Award.
In addition to her service to the university, Nancy was very proud of her 16-year membership of the Judicial Advisory Council of the Texas Board of Criminal Justice, which oversaw the Texas adult probation system responsible for hundreds of thousands of probationers. Nancy's contributions were recognized by her receipt of the Texas Probation and Parole Association Service Award.
Numerous Houston organizations have also benefited from the Eubank’s support, including the Houston Bar Auxiliary Association, Houston Museum of Art, Houston Symphony League, and Houston Grand Opera Guild.
Nancy is survived by her loving husband and children John T. Eubank III and his wife Ingrid, Marshall M. Eubank and his fiancé Elizabeth Mills More, Stephen W. Eubank and his wife Kelley, and Laura E. Wexler and her husband Seth. She has 12 grandchildren: Ilona, Thomas, Scott, Elizabeth, Nancy, Luke, George, Claire, Helen, Benjamin, Alexander, and Juliana.
