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David Taylor Obituary
Memories and Condolences
for David Taylor
April 27, 2013
From his classmates from Lawrenceville Class of 53,we all send our condolences.
Randy Taylor
April 17, 2013
Eulogy for funeral service for David L. Taylor, April 5, 2013
Written by David's sons.
Delivered at Holy Redeemer Church.
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Thank you all for coming to this celebration of the life of David Taylor, my Dad. Our family has traveled here from all over the country, from Maine to California, from Chicago to Austin. David and Mary's friends are here, friendships which have spanned many decades. We are all so stunned by this sudden and profound loss.
Dad and Mary shared almost 32 years of devoted marriage. Each of them fully embraced the children of the other and created a loving environment for six children, which has led to 13 grandchildren. They both relished the role of grand-parenting. Their home is adorned with dozens of pictures of them with the grandchildren. They traveled frequently to visit their children and grand children. Dad was a believer in Christ, deeply committed to his Catholic faith and a member of this church beginning in 1962. Two of his sons were baptized in this church and all four were confirmed here. Dad played music here for Sunday mass; he attended bible study, and fully participated in the life of the church.
What kind of person was David? He was a kind, generous, and forgiving man. Each of us can remember the consistency with which he displayed these traits and it's difficult to remember a time where he did not. His kindness was rooted in his spirituality. Dad was a scientist, a scholar, a teacher, a musician, an athlete, a pilot, a carpenter and a passionate baseball fan. He was deeply rooted in the Webster Groves community.
Dad was born in 1936, and grew up in New Jersey with his sister Judy, whose children are also with us today. He graduated from Princeton University with a degree in chemical engineering. He subsequently earned a doctorate in physical chemistry. He and my mom moved to Webster Groves in 1962, when he began a career working for Monsanto as a research scientist. After a successful 35 year career, he retired, and then went back to work as a physics teacher at Rosati-Kain High School. He encouraged many students to excel academically and he made physics fun by creating his own experiments for class. After seven years at Rosati-Kain, Dad retired again, and began his self-study of advanced physics including Einstein's theory of relativity. He developed a course in cosmology for the average person, which he taught for several years at the Meramec campus of the St. Louis Community College. His final work was as a volunteer hospice care giver to terminally ill patients. He provided comfort to them through friendship, music, reading, and conversation geared to each patient's needs and interests.
There was no intellectual task too challenging for my Dad, except one…mastering the game of golf. But he tried, boy did he try. He was pretty accurate off the tee and could hit the irons pretty well. In fact he carried a 2-iron for years. But he was dumbfounded by the putter. I remember a few years back he had the yips so bad he would miss a straight three-foot putt by three feet to the left on one hole, then by three feet to the right on the next. In fact, in the middle of one round he putted with his 5-iron because he was so frustrated with his putter.
From that day on he was determined to find the solution. He did everything: he putted left handed, cross-handed, and over-handed. He welded additional metal to his putter, made the grip bigger by installing PVC pipe around the shaft and filling it with hardening foam and then he meticulously marked the exact center of balance. He did everything he could to build a better putter. Through all this trial and error he found the answer. And it was the most awful looking thing. But he played with the putter he created and he improved greatly. He conquered the yips and enjoyed the game of golf until the end.
Dad was a great provider, and we remember his generosity for his family, but he was also frugal. We joke that sometimes he practiced medicine without a license. For example, rather than send us to the dermatologist, he would bring home left over liquid nitrogen from the laboratory and freeze off the warts on his kids' hands. The treatments succeeded, even if a little painful, and we all have the scars to prove it.
Dad loved baseball. He grew up a Brooklyn Dodgers fan but became a dedicated Cardinals fan. All the way through high school Dad played shortstop, like his favorite player Pee Wee Reese. He and Mary held a family reunion and celebration of their 30-year wedding anniversary at a few years ago at Blackburn Park. One reason they chose Blackburn Park was so that there could be a pick-up baseball game. That celebration also included a Cardinals game and Dad got great seats for everyone.
To sum up, Dad loved this world, always found new things to discover about it, and was making plans with family and friends up to the moment he was abruptly taken from us. Dad loved Mary. Dad loved all his sons, stepsons, and grandchildren. Dad strove to make his life a benefit to everyone he knew, and he succeeded. He will be deeply missed.
Margo Gordon
April 13, 2013
Mary - My condolences to you on your loss. What a full life, filled with love and passions. My prayers for comfort go out to you.
Sally Ortiz
April 7, 2013
Dear Mary,
Luis and I are shocked and saddened by your loss. Our thoughts are with you.
How you can show support
April 7, 2013
Mary, I am so sorry to hear about Dave. You are in my thoughts and prayers as you move through this time. JoAnne Osburn
I miss you so much already Grandpa. I love you
Melissa Taylor
April 6, 2013
Bill and Barbara Watkins
April 5, 2013
Your neighbors offer our sympathy for your loss.
David Fitz
April 5, 2013
We are so sorry to hear of your loss. Your family is in our prayers.
Lisa Kastner
April 4, 2013
Dear Mary, I am sorry to hear about Dave. I was really moved by all the beautiful photos of him: smiling, surrounded by friends and family, clearly loved. I am holding you and your family in my heart.
Larry Ross
April 4, 2013
Mary, I am so sorry to hear of David's passing. We are thinking of you at this difficult time. Larry and Debbie Ross
Don and Sandy Oliver
April 4, 2013
Mary and family: Our thoughts and prayers are with you all at this time,
Brian, Jen, Zach, Jacqueline Baetz
April 4, 2013
We'll all so miss our beloved step-father and grandfather. May he rest in peace and may the family take comfort in memories of him.
Krista Duffy
April 4, 2013
Mary, I was shocked and saddened to hear the news about David. We are very sorry for your loss and will keep you in our prayers.
Roz Marx
April 4, 2013
Mary,
My condolences to you and your family.
Donna Bossow
April 4, 2013
Mary, I am so sorry to hear of your sudden, tragic loss. I hope that all the friends surrounding you at this time will be the comfort you need to get you through this difficult time.
Donna Bossow
Jerry Higginbotham
April 3, 2013
Condolences and best wishes to Mary and family.
Jerry Higginbotham
Gail Rock
April 3, 2013
Mary,
I am so sorry for your tragic loss. May the love and support of your family and friends give you comfort.
John Patterson
April 3, 2013
Dear Mary, I knew David through the tennis club. He played well last week. He was always friendly. Very sorry for your loss.
Earline Kuthe
April 3, 2013
So sorry for your loss. My thoughts are with you at this difficult time. Lean on the Lord for strength.
Ann Kehler
April 3, 2013
Dear Mary . . this is so shocking to hear. My heart goes out to you and your family! I'm committed to an out of town event this weekend or I would be there with you! So, so sorry . . Ann
April 3, 2013
Dear Mary, May all comfort be yours. I'm sure David is making his beautiful music now for a much larger, glorious audience.
Pam Davis (Greenleaf alto & former SLuR)
April 3, 2013
Ps 46 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. ...
Love and Prayers to you and your family,
Brooke Dahm
Molly and Jim Barrett
April 3, 2013
Dear Mary,
There are many friends who are thinking of you and your family. We send our love and sympathy at this difficult time.
Love,
Elizabeth Brewer
April 3, 2013
Dear Mary,
I am so sorry for your sudden loss of David. Please know that you are in my thoughts. May love surround you now and in coming days.
Sincerely,
Bee Brewer
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