Overview
- Tibet House US announced on Instagram that Thurman died in Woodstock, New York, on Tuesday, June 16, and the post asked that the Thurman family be given privacy.
- Thurman is survived by his wife Nena Thurman and children including actress Uma Thurman, Ganden, Dechen and Mipam, and daughter Taya from a prior relationship; Uma has not publicly commented as of the latest reports.
- Colleagues and followers left condolences on the Instagram post, including meditation teacher Ben Decker, and Tibet House US included the Tibetan mantra "Om Mani Padme Hum" in its announcement.
- Thurman spent about 30 years teaching Indo‑Tibetan Buddhist studies at Columbia, co‑founded Tibet House US to preserve Tibetan culture, translated and wrote widely, and was reportedly the first Westerner ordained by the Dalai Lama.
- His death is likely to draw renewed attention to Tibetan studies and to the institutions he helped build, and observers should watch for statements from academic departments, Tibet House events, and any family announcements once privacy requests are lifted.