Marlene Resnick Tepper: Arts, Family, and the Threads of a Public-Private Life

Table of Contents

Basic Information

Field	Details
Name	Marlene Resnick Tepper
Also Known As	Marlene A. Tepper; Marlene Resnick Brandt; Marlene Brandt
Education	Rutgers College; Mason Gross School of the Arts alumna
Known For	Arts philanthropy; co-funding the Tepper Family Endowed Chair in Visual Arts at Rutgers
Spouse(s)	David A. Tepper (m. 1986; divorced mid-2010s); Barry Brandt (m. 2017)
Children	Brian Tepper; Randi Tepper; Casey Tepper
Notable Philanthropy	Tepper Family Endowed Chair in Visual Arts ($3 million) and scholarships ($400,000) at Rutgers
Public Roles	Donor and arts supporter; appearances at university investitures and donor events
Current Surname Usage	Brandt (in recent family records)
Date of Birth	Not publicly listed

Kara Walker Collaborates With Rutgers Students (Tepper Chair / Mason Gross coverage)

Early Life and Education

The public story of Marlene Resnick Tepper begins at Rutgers, where she is celebrated as a Rutgers College alumna connected to the Mason Gross School of the Arts. While her early biography is not widely chronicled, the university’s recognition of her as an arts alumna provides a strong compass point: training, affinity, and long-term commitment to visual arts. That university connection later became the stage on which she would help shape programs and possibilities for student artists, underscoring a personal bond to arts education rather than a transactional donor profile.

Marriage, Children, and Family Threads

In 1986, Marlene married David A. Tepper, who would become known for founding Appaloosa Management and later owning the Carolina Panthers. Together, they raised three children—Brian, Randi, and Casey—names that recur in institutional and family materials. Over time, the Tepper Foundation emerged as a central family platform, with Randi serving in leadership and Brian and Casey appearing in team and board contexts. This family engagement reads like a tapestry: philanthropy, professional paths, and personal relationships woven together, with Marlene’s presence felt in the arts and family spheres rather than in splashy corporate profiles.

Public records indicate that the marriage ended in the mid-2010s. The transition was covered by mainstream outlets but largely as a footnote to David’s public life. The family remained visible chiefly through philanthropy and institutional ties, with Marlene’s role consistent—steady, supportive, and tied to arts programming.

Philanthropy in Focus: The Tepper Family Endowed Chair in Visual Arts

If one moment crystallizes Marlene’s public identity, it is the establishment of the Tepper Family Endowed Chair in Visual Arts at Rutgers. The endowed chair carried a $3 million commitment, alongside $400,000 directed to scholarships, and catalyzed high-impact programming at Mason Gross. Marlene appeared in university materials as a named donor, and she spoke at investiture events—an unmistakable signal that her support went beyond a signature on a pledge form.

The chair brought distinguished artists into close collaboration with students and faculty—most notably, Kara Walker was named a Tepper Chair, with related programming that gave students proximity to a leading voice in contemporary art. These events and residencies re-centered the studio classroom as a place where artistic momentum could be felt, almost like the hum of a well-tuned instrument. For the university, the endowed chair fortified faculty excellence and student opportunity. For Marlene, it reflected alignment: an alumna helping an arts school amplify its reach.

Transitions and Name

Following the mid-2010s separation and divorce from David, Marlene’s life entered a new chapter. In 2017, she registered for a wedding with Barry Brandt, and recent family notices reflect her current usage as Marlene Brandt. In 2025, a family obituary for her mother, Meredith Resnick, listed Marlene Brandt among the survivors, reinforcing the updated surname and continuing links to New Jersey roots. This arc—marriage, divorce, remarriage, and enduring family ties—maps a measured public record rather than tabloid drama.

Public Presence and Privacy

Marlene does not maintain a widely publicized corporate executive profile, nor is there an authoritative standalone biography charting her life in the detail often afforded to business magnates or elected officials. Her public footprint is composed of institutional donor notes, family foundations, and occasional photographs at university events. Net worth estimates for her personally are not publicly tallied. In an age of oversharing, this restraint is notable: a preference for the work—arts education and family philanthropy—over self-promotion. Where some lives become a neon marquee, hers reads like a gallery label—brief, precise, and intentionally composed.

Timeline

Year	Event
1986	Married David A. Tepper.
1996	Tepper Foundation founded; family involvement grows over time.
2011	Rutgers announces the Tepper Family Endowed Chair in Visual Arts ($3 million) and scholarships ($400,000), naming Marlene A. Tepper as donor.
2013–2015	Chair-related programming and investitures; donor appearances and remarks by Marlene at Mason Gross events.
Mid-2010s	Public reports of separation and divorce from David.
Nov 2017	Wedding registry records Marlene’s marriage to Barry Brandt.
2025	Family obituary lists Marlene Brandt among survivors of her mother, Meredith Resnick.

Family at a Glance

Name	Relation	Notes
Marlene Resnick Tepper (Brandt)	Self	Rutgers arts alumna; donor tied to the Tepper Chair in Visual Arts.
David A. Tepper	Former spouse	Appaloosa founder; Carolina Panthers owner; long-time family philanthropy.
Barry Brandt	Spouse	Married Marlene in 2017; current surname usage aligns with Brandt.
Brian Tepper	Child	Appears in foundation materials; professional roles in product/engineering contexts.
Randi Tepper	Child	Publicly identified in leadership at the Tepper Foundation.
Casey Tepper	Child	Listed in foundation/team contexts; maintains a low public profile.
Meredith Resnick	Mother	Deceased in 2025; family obituary documents ties and naming.

FAQ

Who is Marlene Resnick Tepper?

She is an arts alumna and donor best known for co-funding the Tepper Family Endowed Chair in Visual Arts at Rutgers and for her long marriage to financier David A. Tepper.