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Robert M. Taylor

1955 - 2021

Robert M. Taylor obituary, 1955-2021, Columbus, OH

Robert Taylor Obituary

Taylor, Robert M.
1955 - 2021
Robert Moroz Taylor, age 66, loving husband, father, and grandfather passed away of pancreatic cancer on January 15, 2021, at Kobacker House Hospice, Columbus, Ohio. Born in Columbus, Ohio, January 7, 1955. "Bob", "Bobby", "BT" came from a loving family that valued education, culture, and caring about those less fortunate. He was a man of great intelligence, integrity, spirituality, and humanity, who devoted his life to caring for others, including those at the end-of-life. At Whetstone High School, Bob was an honors student and held records as a member of the Track and Cross Country teams. At Harvard University, he majored in Biology; he brought his faithful dog Sarah to the commencement ceremony! Bob earned his M.D. from The Ohio State University and completed his Residency in Neurology at Dartmouth Medical School. He established a private practice in Granville, Ohio, with a hospital appointment at Licking Memorial Hospital in Newark, Ohio, where he was voted "Social Work Doctor of the Year." Next came a Fellowship in Clinical Medical Ethics at the University of Chicago. He became a Roxane Scholar in Palliative Care at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, a Fellow of the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, and a Palliative Care physician at Mount Carmel East and The OSU Wexner Medical Center. Bob was the first non-oncologist elected Chief of Staff of the OSU James Cancer Hospital. Like his father before him, Bob was a brilliant teacher. He was an Associate Professor at OSU in Clinical Neurology, Internal Medicine and Palliative Care. From 2017 – 2020, he was the Associate Medical Director at Care Dimensions Hospice House in Waltham, Massachusetts, before retiring and returning to Columbus, Ohio, in May, 2020. During his distinguished career as a physician, he was a friend and mentor to many younger colleagues who greatly benefited from his teaching and guidance. Bob's proudest accomplishment was his marriage to Joan Gibb Taylor, becoming a father to Sadie and Hilary, and grandfather to Joss and Mara. The family enjoyed time together, including this past summer canoeing on the Olentangy River near their home. Bob and Joan took many cruises together: "the only way to get Bob to stop working!" They traveled to visit relatives and to many countries around the world. With his daughter Sadie, Bob took trips to Russia as chaperone with the Columbus Children's Choir, and to Washington, D.C. for President Obama's 2008 inauguration. With his daughter Hilary, Bob hiked part of the Appalachian Trail, and she accompanied him on a medical mission to the Republic of Kosovo. Bob loved people and conversations. He was a devoted brother, cousin, and uncle to his extended family. He was a friend to many in all walks of life, including his numerous Facebook friends. Bob faced death with grace and love for others. He wrote and spoke openly about his final illness. He said he had been preparing for this moment since he was in high school by reading and discussing philosophy and religious teachings. Bob was a man of deep faith and spirituality. Like Gandhi, Bob believed in living life, day to day, as meaningfully as possible in the face of mortality. Preceded in death by parents William Johnson and Florence ,Moroz Taylor, beloved aunts, uncles, and cousins. Survived by wife, Joan Gibb Taylor; daughters, Sadie (Mike) Palmisano and Hilary (Aaron) Witt; grandchildren, Joss and Mara Palmisano; sisters Linda, Joan, and Barbara Taylor; aunt, Dorothy Willis; uncle, Eugene (Joann) Moroz; and many cousins and second cousins. Bob considered himself a brother to his wife's 11 siblings and an uncle to their many children and grandchildren. Bob was someone you could always call and rely upon to "be there" for his family, friends, and colleagues. Above all, he was a kind and compassionate man. "When he shall die, take him and cut him out in little stars, and he will make the face of heaven so fine, that all the world will be in love with night and pay no worship to the garish sun." (William Shakespeare). Due to Covid-19 concerns, there will be a private funeral service for immediate family. A Celebration of Life Memorial Service will be held at a future date. Please check the funeral home website or Bob's Facebook page for date and time. To send an online condolence, please visit www.schoedinger.com. The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center along with the Center for Bioethics and the Division of Palliative Medicine are establishing the Robert M. Taylor, MD Lecture in Ethics and Palliative Care to honor Bob's years of service and contribution. For guidance on how to contribute to this fund and, in lieu of flowers, please contact [email protected] at the Center for Bioethics. Funeral arrangements entrusted to SCHOEDINGER NORTHWEST.

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Published by The Columbus Dispatch from Jan. 17 to Jan. 18, 2021.

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Mark Davis

January 22, 2021

I went to Whetstone High School with Bob where we ran together on the cross country and track teams and became friends. He was already an amazing person and leader, clearly destined to succeed at whatever he did. He was smart as a whip and a champion runner; yet very humble. Very determined; yet a free spirit with a great personality and sense of humor. He was clearly a caring person with great empathy and altruism. He was kind to all. So it does not surprise me that he became a great doctor in a difficult specialty. We lost touch after high school, much to my regret and loss. It was a privilege to have known him for the short time that I did.

Dennis J Smith

January 21, 2021

I had the pleasure of meeting Bob quite a number of years ago. My father was a patient at Mount Carmel East and he received his Palliative Care from Dr. Taylor and his team. I was very impressed by his compassion, professionalism and genuine concern not only for my dad but for all of us as well. Despite being in the healthcare field for many years, it was my first exposure to what Palliative Medicine actually meant. At that particular time I was the COO of The James Cancer Hospital and I knew immediately that we needed to recruit Bob to join us and oversee the initiation of our Palliative Medicine Program. From that point forward Bob and I became close friends and my admiration and respect continued to grow by leaps and bounds. I have known but few people who had the heart and compassion of Dr. Bob Taylor. The true practice of medicine lost a champion when he died and I know in my heart it will be difficult if not impossible to fill his shoes. Bob, thank you for all you gave to others. Rest In Peace my friend.

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Amy Schneider

January 19, 2021

I worked with Bob in palliative care at Mount Carmel. He was so welcoming and patient as I was learning my role as a new social worker. I learned a lot from him and always enjoyed his philosophical and ethical teachings during rounds! I had a distant family member see him at the outpatient palliative care clinic at OSU. This family member credited Bob with giving him his life back by controlling his cancer pain. What a legacy to have done this for so many people! His loss will be felt!

Myra D. Clark-Foster

January 18, 2021

An amazing soul, brilliant physician, and loving family man. Missed by many.

Moira Kelsey

January 18, 2021

In my 30 years at The Ohio State University Medical Center, Dr. Robert Taylor was one of the most amazing physicians I had the honor to work with.

I only met "Bob" in 2005 when he was hired to to be medical director for the new Palliative Care program in The James and I was appointed as the administrative director. He so did, direct this team. He had such grace and compassion for Palliative Care and especially for patients at the End of Life. Bob was an ultimate teacher and professor- wanting only to pass on his knowledge and experience to all of us who joined his team...doctors, nurses, pharmacists, chaplains, psychologists and social workers.

In his tenure at OSU, he also received the "Physician of the Year" award from the Ohio Association of Hospice and Palliative Care. Our Program also received the honor of one of the Best Palliative Care Programs in the United States by the University Hospitals Consortium.

Under his tenure, The American Medical Association and The James recognized Hospice and Palliative Care as a Medical Specialty. He and his colleague Michael Adolph, MD developed one of the first board certified fellowship programs for physcians desiring to be board certified in Hospice Palliative care under the AMA regulations.

Dr. Taylor also had a "free spirit" surrounding him. He loved life, his work and especially his family Joan, Sadie and Hilary. His love for his family was something he could hide. He always talked about Joan and his daughters, Hilary and Sadie with such love and pride.

Our "True and Core" Palliative Care team continued to meet even after it had dispersed and many retired, for dinners, coffee, and texts for several years. Our last meeting was at the Park of Roses in Columbus in June 2020. Bob looked fantastic and so looking forward to retirement and time with his family We released 40 balloons into the air that day for our "beloved" team in which he and we had worked so hard to build and teach the mission of Palliative Care.

We so loved and respected Bob Taylor. It was an honor to know him as a mentor, a friend and the doctor he was. Our love goes out to his family...to Joan, to Sadie, to Hilary and Bob's beautiful grandchildren!

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