Taylor Ongaro

The world lost a beloved and intrepid soul when Taylor Rankin Ongaro, 54, died unexpectedly on September 13, 2024.

Born on August 26, 1970 in Cleveland, Ohio, Taylor was the son of Dr. Theodore J. Ongaro and Katherine D. Ongaro. He spent his formative years in Andover, Massachusetts, and adventurous family summers in Kennebunkport and Islesboro, Maine.

A genuine maverick and renaissance man with a big heart and zest for life and his passions, Taylor was highly engaging with everyone that crossed his path. His curiosity, energy and enthusiasm were boundless, and he left an indelible mark on all those who knew him. "Big Rhino" to his nieces and nephews who would climb on him when they were young, and numerous fun nicknames given to him by his family and many good friends, Taylor embraced his relationships with the same fervor and zeal that he did all things in life that were important to him. He is dearly missed by his family and his cadre of friends and colleagues.

Taylor attended the Northfield Mount Hermon School followed by the University of Vermont, where he majored in Environmental Studies and Geographic Information Systems (GIS), graduating in 1993. In his freshman year, Taylor was recognized as Student of the Year for creating an innovative composting program. At UVM he also played a leadership role in VSTEP (Vermont Students Toward Environmental Protection) and was integral in launching a campus recycling initiative.

Professionally, Taylor began his career at The Island Institute in Rockland, Maine, contributing to one of the first GIS mapping projects of Maine's coastline. He would go on to become an accomplished IT professional, spending many years as a Network Architect in IBM's federal government practice where he worked with NASA and other federal agencies, as well as in several other companies and organizations that all benefited from his knowledge and passion for his field. Additionally, he was a co-founder of Open Garden, a Wi-Fi tethering application. He was known for his forward-thinking ideas about technology and was particularly committed to finding ways to make healthcare more accessible and affordable through identity data management technology.

A true technophile and technology enthusiast, Taylor also lived with a deep love and respect for the natural world. In 1993, during a sailing trip from Maine to the Canadian Maritimes, he married these two interests and achieved a groundbreaking milestone by posting digital photos of the journey to the nascent internet, from the boat - a pioneering feat at the time.

Taylor was also a dog person and he loved his two dogs, chihuahuas Amy and Nicole, who accompanied him everywhere. Often seen on his shoulders - together, at the same time - while he went about his day, usually wearing his trademark clogs and wool socks and shorts, he and the dogs struck quite an image. Always with a gleam in his eye and a quick grin and laugh-out-loud cackle at one of his jokes or wry observations about life, Taylor was a fun and interesting individual who made a lasting impression on all those fortunate enough to enjoy his energetic company.

Another passion of Taylor's was the ocean, in particular the rocky coast of Maine, and boating and sailing, which he pursued when he found the time. He helmed small trimaran speed sailboats in the waters of San Francisco Bay and sailed his family's Cal25 25-foot sailboat in the waters of Casco and Penobscot Bays. He lived aboard the Cal25 in Portland, Maine, and even over-wintered on the boat in Portland Harbor. And he always looked forward to "fishing for bugs" with his lobstermen friends. Other pursuits and hobbies included mountain biking, skiing, flying kites, playing cribbage, and the occasional indulgence of dinner at The Daily Catch in Boston's North End.

Taylor also cherished his family. In 2011, he met Kimberlee Courant when they were both living in Mid-Coast Maine. Taylor was fond of recounting how, as he was driving to meet Kim for the first time, he had a strong hunch that he was about to meet his future wife. He was right and they fell deeply in love and were married in August of 2012. In September of 2013 Kim and Taylor had a son, Theo. Together with Kim's son Matthias, who Taylor embraced as his own, they lived in Mid-Coast Maine, Maui, Hawaii, and Portland, Oregon. In July of 2024 Taylor, Kim, and Theo relocated to Belfast, Maine.

Taylor is survived by his wife, Kimberlee Ongaro (Kim) and their son, Theodore Key Ongaro (Theo); his stepson, Matthias Morse; his parents, Dr. Theodore J. and Katherine D. Ongaro (Teddy and Katie); his brother, Theodore D. Ongaro (Todd); his sister, Julie Ongaro Luxembourg (Dewi) and brother-in-law, Robert Luxembourg; his sister, Natalie Ongaro; and his five nieces and nephews.

A Celebration of Life event will be held on Saturday April 26th, 2025, in the greater Boston area, at a time and location to be determined. Those wishing to attend may send an email to Todd Ongaro at tdo5709@yahoo.com for details.