David R. Taylor

TAYLOR, David R., 48, landscape architect, passed away Wednesday, November 28, 2007. Mr. Taylor died of lung cancer at his home on Davis Islands. He passed peacefully while overlooking the beautiful view of the Hillsborough Bay and his colorful koi fish pond. He was surrounded by his partner, sister and two of his brothers-in-law. Mr. Taylor was born December 8, 1958 in Anderson, Ind. He attended Anderson High School and graduated from Purdue University. Dave met his long-term partner, Jim Walters, in 1986, while living in Charlotte, N.C. David Taylor was a partner and vice president of LandDesign. He was managing partner of the Tampa office, which he opened in June 2001. His affiliations include: member of American Society of Landscape Architects, Urban Land Institute, National Association of Home Builders, Real Estate Investment Council, Tampa Downtown Partnership, Bay Area Apartment Association and Congress for New Urbanism. His passion for his work led to many prestigious, award-winning urban planning, land planning, landscape architecture, civil engineering and sector clients around the world. Mr. Taylor' s recent plans won many national awards. Projects, Courtney Palms, Citrus Palms and Crosswynde, won multifamily awards for Best Suburban Site Plans. Project, Parkside of One Bayshore, was awarded Best of the Best in National Multifamily Industry Award Competition. Mr. Taylor said, "This project required a creative plan to address the challenges inherent to the narrow street grid of the historic Hyde Park neighborhood. Preserving the street grid and grand live oak trees were critical to a seamless integration and pedestrian enhanced solution. The architects heightened the effect by playing off surrounding historical elements and giving them a contemporary touch." Dave enjoyed boating, traveling and watching sports. He completed many home restoration projects, including designing and building numerous personal homes with his partner. In addition to his loving partner, Jim, and their Jack Russell, Rosie, Dave is survived by his parents, Robert and Lou Ann Taylor, Anderson, Ind.; his siblings and their spouses, Doug Taylor, Anderson, Ind., Diann and Robin Reed, Mount Crawford, Va., and Dan and Jennifer Taylor, Russiaville, Ind.; his aunts and uncles, Dick and Carole Strock, Anderson, Ind., and Phil Strock and his partner, Tom Zeabart, McCordsville, Ind.; great-aunt, Jerry Swaynie, Noblesville, Ind.; his in-laws, Steve and Betty Walters, Flat Rock, N.C.; his brothers-in-law and spouses, Greg Walters, Tampa, Cary Walters, Hendersonville, N.C., Shane Walters and his partner, Markey Stubbs, Columbia, S.C., and Todd and Kerry Walters, Austin, Texas; his nieces and nephews, Chelsie Reed, Ithaca, N.Y., Madison Walters, Indian Trail, N.C., Jaylee Walters, Fayetteville, Ga., Austin Reed, Mount Crawford, Va., Alex and Lee Taylor, Russiaville, Ind., and Cameron and Avery Walters , Austin, Texas; cousins, Brad and Vicky Strock, Denver, N.C., Jeff Strock, Indianapolis, Ind., Greg and Erika Strock, Martinsville, Ind., and Rachel and Scott Doba, Danville, Ind. A private memorial service for the family will take place at Hyde Park United Methodist Church. A casual celebration of Dave' s life for family members and friends will take place at 3:15 p.m. Saturday, December 8, at the residence of Jim and Dave. In honoring Dave' s passion of landscape architecture, a scholarship fund has been created. The scholarship will aid aspiring landscape architects at Dave' s alma mater, Purdue University. Please send donations to the David R. Taylor Scholarship Fund in care of Allen and Co. of Florida, 1401 S. Florida Ave., Lakeland, FL 33803.