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William Taylor

1942 - 2019

William Taylor obituary, 1942-2019, Carmel, CA

William Taylor Obituary

William H. Taylor

Feb. 15, 1942 - Nov. 21, 2018

Will Taylor - actor, writer, poet, tech geek, opera buff, environmentalist - passed away peacefully on November 21, 2018 in his beloved Carmel, as a result of complications suffered in a fall.

Packing several careers into one lifetime, Will had a larger-than-life personality and a raucous laugh. To know Will was to love him.

Born in Berkeley, CA, Will went to Germany with his family in 1947 where his father - a civilian employee of the Pentagon - was assigned to help with the post-war rebuilding effort. Will spent his childhood and teen years there, returning to Berkeley each summer to visit his grandmother and, as he said, to "fill up on American television." He returned to the states at the age of 21, subsequently graduating from UC Berkeley and attending San Francisco Art Institute.

Will then joined the Peace Corp and was assigned to Turkey. Subsequently he landed a job as the film librarian for the National Film Board of Canada in San Francisco. Realizing that film distribution was not his true calling, Will ventured to New York, where he appeared in off-Broadway shows and wrote for the popular ABC television soap Ryan's Hope. He returned to San Francisco in the 1970's, using his skills to write technical manuals.

In the 1980's, Will joined the Bay Area Air Quality Management District, first in Enforcement and then in the Public Information Division where his writing, editing and public presentation talents were put to good use. He was part of the original team that began the renowned Spare the Air campaign in 1992 to alert the public to high levels of air pollution . An early adopter of business technology, Will also devised the first (pre-computer) fax network program to notify Spare the Air employers of impending dirty air. Will also wrote, and implemented, the original Spare the Air website, at a time when few government agencies had an internet presence.

Will had an insatiable curiosity for all things. He was an avid opera buff and could spend hours listening to, watching and discussing singers and performances. His magnetic personality created a wide circle of friends from every corner of his life. Those who know Will agree that he was a special and unique friend and advocate for all who needed some help. Receiving a holiday message from Will, complete with pictures and humorous commentary, was a highlight of many a Christmas season.

Will is survived by his partner of 27 years James Pond, his brother Claxton, sister-in-law Kim and their three children: Tully, Llama, and Austin. He was predeceased by him mother Ruth M. Taylor, his father Hugh Taylor, and his stepmother Irene Roeckel.

Gifts in Will's remembrance can be made to:
Share the Caregiving, Inc., c/o National Center for Civic Innovation, 121 Avenue of the Americas, 6th Floor, New York NY, 10013, www.sharethecare.org.

There will be a celebration of life on May 4th, 2019 from 4 to 8 pm at the Pine Inn, Ocean Ave & Lincoln, Carmel-By The Sea, Ca, 93923 (Phone: 831-624-3851).

Published by San Francisco Chronicle from Apr. 12 to Apr. 21, 2019.
34465541-95D0-45B0-BEEB-B9E0361A315A

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Memories and Condolences
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5 Entries

I am just finding out about Wills passing, and am heartbroken, and yet smiling too. What a Renaissance Man, what a daddy before it was a thing, what a gentle human being...before cruelty became the coin of the realm. Oh, what he would have to say about our current situation. The world is a less kind place without him

Bob

Friend

May 18, 2020

I had the great good pleasure of sub-letting Bill's place on Filbert Street in the Marina in 1972. Bill had a teaching gig in Lima, Ohio at that time. People would come over and see his loft bed, Turkish rugs and pewter, all the paintings, the Bay view and say, "You've done really well for yourself."
Later, Bill worked for Films Inc. in North Beach. I was a film student at S.F. State, but Bill's crowd from the S.F. Art Institute was far more interesting. I'm sure he exposed me to George Kuchar for one among a throng of other S.F. "types". For years I've wondered what became of Bill and alas now I've found him. I have only the fondest recollections of our friendship and know that he played a great influence in my love of film and humor.

John McCormick

January 15, 2020

I only know Will Taylor from work, but I know that he was a lot of fun, and I am certain that his friends and family are going to miss him immensely. When he worked for PI&E, I always tried to throw him off of his line of thinking with an impropmptu bit of zaniness, but I never could. He always remained calm, centered and gracefully funny. I think the world will lose a little brightness with his passing. My condolences to his family and his friends, who really were a part of his extended family. My best to all of you!

Marc Nash

April 25, 2019

My deepest condolences, James. I regret that I will not be able to attend the celebration of Will's life--his life definitely deserves to be celebrated. The years I worked with Will at the SF Air District were some of the best of my long public-sector career. Not only did we all work well together, we were friends and we had each other's back. Will's smile, his deep, resounding laugh, his love for life, you and Stella will be missed. My life is richer to have been his friend.

Love, Luna

Luna Salaver

April 21, 2019

We are saddened to learn of the passing of Will, but grateful for his service to our nation with the Peace Corps in Turkey.

Our Condolences,
The National Peace Corps Association

April 15, 2019

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Memorial Events
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May

4

Celebration of Life

4:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Pine Inn

Ocean Ave & Lincoln, Carmel-By The Sea, CA

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