Dr. Joseph L. Taylor
1941-2016
Dr. Joseph L. Taylor, a mathematician and professor at the University of Utah, who was awarded the prestigious Steele Prize for his advances in mathematical analysis, died on July 28 in Salt Lake City. He was 75.
Dr. Taylor graduated from Olympus High School in 1959. The following year he began taking math classes at the University of Utah, before enrolling directly in the Louisiana State University graduate education program in 1961. Dr. Taylor received his Bachelor of Science degree in 1963, his doctorate only a year later. Dr. Taylor then became a Benjamin Peirce Instructor at Harvard University.
Dr. Taylor returned to the University of Utah in 1965, where he taught and later became chair of the department from 1979 to 1982. Dr. Taylor recruited top mathematicians, helping to lead the university's math department to national prominence.
Dr. Taylor also served as Dean of the College of Science at the University of Utah from 1985 to 1987, and as Vice President for Academic Affairs from 1987 to 1990. He retired from the university in 2012.
As a young mathematician, Dr. Taylor gave a week-long series of lectures for the Conference Board of Mathematical Sciences. Those 1972 lectures included his own research, which advanced central mathematical analysis by taking seminal work by the renowned mathematician Dr. Paul Cohen to bring it to a conclusion, while at the same time opening up a whole new area of research. Those leading-edge efforts won Dr. Taylor the American Mathematical Society's highest research award, The Steele Prize for Mathematical Exposition.
Dr. Hugo Rossi was a colleague of Dr. Taylor's: "Joe's fearless insights, exceptional clarity of thought, and tirelessness while on the hunt, led him to tackle some of the most significant mathematical problems of his era, and if not resolve them, to bring new ideas and tools to the task."
Among Dr. Taylor numerous distinctions, he was an invited speaker at the International Congress of Mathematicians in 1974. He also served as a visiting professor at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne in 1975; in the same capacity, he taught at the University of New South Wales, Australia, in 1983.
Dr. Taylor's unpublished notes from the classes he taught were widely appropriated and appreciated. He perfected those specific course notes and turned them into three books: Several Complex Variables with Connections to Algebraic Geometry and Lie Groups, Complex Variables, and Foundations of Analysis.
Among his colleagues, friends, and family, Dr. Taylor was renowned for his sharp sense of humor and love of the outdoors. An avid hunter, hiker, and camper, he explored much of Utah's wilderness. He also trained bird dogs, including one national field champion.
Dr. Taylor was born on April 7, 1941. As the oldest of six children in a hard-pressed family, he willingly became a caregiver at a young age. He remained a loyal and supportive man throughout his life, providing help and guidance to his immediate and extended family, as well as to his many friends and colleagues.
Dr. Taylor is survived by his wife of 58 years, the former Ulla Wallin; two daughters, Lucinda Taylor, and Christina Taylor; a son, James Taylor; and eight grandchildren. Dr. Taylor is also survived by three brothers, Steven, Thomas, and Daniel; and a sister, Rosemary Defa.
In conjunction with the University of Utah Math Department, Dr. Taylor's family will hold a memorial service for him on Wednesday, August 3, at 4:00 p.m. in the loft of the Leroy Cowles Building on Presidents Circle on the university campus. The service is open to Dr. Taylor's friends, colleagues, and former students.

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Published by The Salt Lake Tribune on Jul. 31, 2016.

Memories and Condolences
for Joseph Taylor

6 Entries

September 1, 2016

Just heard about Professor Taylor's death.
I remember him as a brillant mathematician, with a sense for humor, e.g. "the course was a disaster for the students, but the instructor learned a great deal".
He would often said "why don't you look at...", which is what (no more, no less!) a good Ph.D. advisor should tell his student(s).
Other recollection: Joe and Ulla were kind enough to invite me for Thanksgiving 1981. Condolences to family and colleagues
Denis Luminet, Brussels, Belgium

August 25, 2016

I spent a year in Salt Lake City from 1974 to 1975 when my former husband was working with Joe in the mathematics department. Joe and Ulla were wonderful to Ian, me and the children (Fiona and Alastair ). Ulla became a particular friend. We actually took over their house for a few months while they were in Europe. Years later when I visited USA on holiday with Fiona both Joe and Ulla were wonderful hosts and even later when visiting Alastair who was in the Utah maths department they made me most welcome. I will always be grateful for the great support I received as a visitor to Salt Lake. It contributed much to make the first year happy and memorable and all visits a great pleasure. My condolences to Ulla , Cindy, Christina and James and their families on their loss.

Anne Craw
Glasgow . G62 7PZ , Scotland

G. Richard Barton

August 2, 2016

As the man who literally wrote the book on "Foundations of Analysis," it was my great honor and pleasure to meet with Dr. Taylor, a few months before his death, about our Blink Engine project. Hundreds of us have been trying for years to wrap our heads around the relational mathematics behind the computer code we are designing. Yet, Dr. Taylor understood it in minutes. As we sat in the den of his home, Dr. Taylor stated that relational mathematics is actually much easier than universal mathematics, once you understand it, because relational laws merely need be consistent to themselves. He advised me that our attempts at movement through hyperbolic space are actually rotations around at least one point, and that we should place our idea of 100% at the largest bulge factor of each line on the Poincare' Disc, rather than at the circle limit, because what is important right now and what we value for the future are two different things. I have a dozen more statements Dr. Taylor made about relational maths and hyperbolic structure illustrated in my sketchbook, and hope one day to also start understanding them in context of our work, but for now, all I can do is morn the loss a truly great mind and helpful human being. Thanks to my mom, Marilyn Barton, for introducing me to Dr. Taylor, and thanks to his wife, Ulla Taylor, for welcoming us into their home.

Jack Simons

August 1, 2016

I was very sad to learn of the death of my friend, Joe Taylor. During the years when I was Chairman of Chemistry, Joe and I became good friends. His Deanship and his term as Academic VP made a great impact on my Department. I fondly recall working with Joe and Hugo Rossi as we worked hard to hire several new faculty members. Both Joe and Hugo told me to "just go ahead and get the best people and we will back you up", and they did exactly that! I know Joe was a great math scholar, but I'd like you and his Math Dept. colleagues to know that I think he was also a great leader of our College and University as well as a wonderful human being. I will miss him a lot.

Marilyn Barton

August 1, 2016

Dearest Ulla and Family,
Joe has been almost like a brother to me as we grew up in the same neighborhood, schools, classes, friends, and then he married my best friend and Swedish sister, Ulla,
Joe has been handsome and smart all through the years and kind to his family in all situations. We will all love and miss him and especially Ulla will. They have been wonderful helpmates to each other and their children. May God bless all of you, and know that we love and care for you. Marilyn & Grant Barton

Shari Zinik

July 31, 2016

For thirty years at the University of Utah I chased Joe Taylor and Peter Trombi around the track at the Field House on my lunch hour nearly every day. I always judged what kind of shape I was in by how long it took me to catch up to them on the track. They were my inspiration! I was the administrative manager of the chemistry department and I not only enjoyed working with Joe when he was Dean of the College of Science, but I also admired his courage in standing up the the university administration on issues that were important to him when he was VP for Academic Affairs. I had great respect for him and am sad to learn of his passing.

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