Gregory Richard Taylor

1954 - 2015

GREGORY RICHARD TAYLOR The family of Dr. Greg Taylor, known as "Taylor," invites all who knew him to join them in a celebration of his remarkable life on Friday, June 12 at 2:00 pm at the Bidwell Bowl amphitheater on the CSU Chico campus. Taylor passed away unexpectedly at home on June 3, 2015. He was 61 years old. Taylor was born March 23, 1954 in San Diego, California and raised in Hungry Horse, Montana. Taylor earned a Ph.D. in Geophysics in 1987 and a M.S. in Astronomy in 1981 from the University of Washington; and a B.S. in Physics in 1976 from Montana State University. In the 1980s he worked as a Senior Oil Field Engineer in the Rocky Mountains for Schlumberger. He spent a year in Colorado as a scientist in the Climate Modeling Section at the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder. Taylor was a popular professor in the Geological and Environmental Sciences Department at CSU Chico for 28 years, teaching astronomy, pollution and environmental science, and other geophysical classes. Taylor was well known in Northern California as an outstanding bodhran (Irish drum) player and founding member of the "Pub Scouts," anchoring the Celtic sessions at Duffy's Tavern for many years. Every Sunday he played music with friends of all skill levels, hosting these sessions with his wife Izzy at either their home in Chico or at the Holbrooke Hotel in Grass Valley. He encouraged everyone to "give us a tune or a song," making all feel welcome to join. His intelligence, sense of humor, deep integrity, work ethic, and loyal friendship will be deeply missed by his many friends around the world. Taylor is survived by his parents Richard and Angela Taylor; his little sisters Debra, Nancy, Kim and Jenny; his two children and their spouses Chris (Amy Danowitz) and Patricia (Kyle Fernish); his two step-children Jake and Yara Pasner; many nieces and nephews; his wife Elizabeth "Izzy" Martin and her extended family. To send condolences to the family or share memories of Taylor, go online to NewtonBracewell.com.