William S. Taylor

EAST DORSET - William S. Taylor, 86, of East Dorset, died peacefully at his home on November 22, 2008, surrounded by family and dear friends. He was the husband of the late Sigrun (Palmgren) Taylor, who died in 1988.

Mr. Taylor was born on February 10, 1922, in Newark, N.J., the son of the late William Denton and Florence (Wiss) Taylor. In 1926, he moved with his family to Short Hills, N.J., where he lived until 1951. He was graduated from The Choate School in Wallingford, Conn., in 1940. He then entered Yale University as a member of the Class of 1944, but, due to Yale's accelerated war-time curriculum, was graduated in 1943 with a Bachelor of Science in Administration.

After his graduation from Yale, he attended the U.S. Naval Reserve Midshipmen's School at Northwestern University in Chicago, Ill. From there, he was dispatched to the South Pacific, where he served as a Naval Officer, reaching the rank of Lieutenant Junior Grade. He was on active duty during WWII from 1943 to 1946.

Upon returning home after the war, he joined Wiss & Sons, Inc., a three-store jewelry business in New Jersey. During his 15 years with the company, he rose to the position of Vice President; he also served as President of the Wiss Realty Corporation. While at Wiss & Sons, Inc., he enrolled in a course with the Gemological Institute of America and became a Certified Gemologist of the American Gem Society. His expertise as a Certified Gemologist enabled him to do jewelry appraisals and to become the diamond and colored gemstone buyer for the three stores.

It was also at Wiss & Sons that he met his future wife, Sigrun, an artist and designer who created the window displays for the store in Montclair. They were married on October 27, 1950. After living briefly in Caldwell, they moved to Summit, N.J., where they remained until 1970, at which time they relocated to Manhattan.

In 1961, Mr. Taylor decided to pursue his interest in the stock market and investments and went to work for the United States Trust Company of New York. He began his investment career as an assistant account executive, quickly advanced to account executive, and was appointed an officer in 1966. At the time of his retirement in 1976 he was a Vice President responsible for portfolio management.

In the summer of 1969, at the age of 47, he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, which ultimately brought his investment career to an end. After his early retirement from the Trust Company in 1976, he and his wife moved from Manhattan to East Dorset, Vt. They both became artist members of the Southern Vermont Arts Center (SVAC) in Manchester. Mr. Taylor renewed his interest in gemstones and for many years took annual refresher exams with the American Gem Society. He also joined the Gem Carvers Guild of America. He studied sculpture at the SVAC under Elfriede Abbe and began to sculpt animals from steatite and other soft gem materials; his work was exhibited in several shows at the Art Center.

In September of 1986 Mr. Taylor was elected to a five-year term on the SVAC Board of Trustees; he served as Vice President during his first year and then as President for two seasons, from 1987 to 1989. During his five-year term he also served on the Executive and Finance committees.

In addition to his work with the SVAC, Mr. Taylor served for several years on the Board of the Southern Vermont Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. After the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act in 1990, he became an active advocate for accessibility to public buildings in downtown Manchester. As his MS progressed and increasingly curtailed his activity, he continued to live his life with grace and courage; his strength was an inspiration to all who knew him.

Mr. Taylor was predeceased by his two brothers, Denton Wiss Taylor and Frederick Fancher Taylor.

He is survived by his two daughters, Martha L. Taylor and her husband John H. Strother of Newbury, Mass., and Lisa T. Clark of Reno, Nev.; his grandson, Aldous T. Strother; and four nephews.

A memorial service will be held early next year. Anyone wishing to make a donation in William Taylor's memory may send it to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Vermont Office, 75 Talcott Road, Suite 40, Williston, VT 05495, (802) 864-6356. To send the family personal e-mail condolences, please visit www.sheafuneralhomes.com.

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