Ann Joaquina Taylor

Ann Taylor, born Ann Joaquina Temple-Raston, will be remembered for her generous spirit, keen intelligence and wide community of friends.
Ann was born in Leicester in the United Kingdom and grew up as the second of three children born to an American mother and English father. She spent the first eight years of her life living in Los Angeles in her mother's family home in Los Angeles. Her father practiced as a surgeon, and when Ann's mother passed away in 1937, Ann and her brother John moved with their father when he continued his army career in India. Her father raised her to be a physician - quite a feat for a young girl at that time - and described the career she'd have in medicine, even teaching her how to practice her syringe skills on oranges
After completing her secondary education in England, Ann enrolled at St. Andrews University in 1947 - one of only a handful of women to graduate from the Scottish medical school. While studying in Scotland, Ann met a very important classmate: Alan. They married in 1955.
After graduation, Ann and Alan both began their careers as physicians in England: Ann in the field of gynecology, and Alan in pediatrics. Ann was an early pioneer in women's health, offering evening clinic hours to working women. In the following years, they became parents to four daughters: Sarah in 1957, Kenane in 1958, Joanna in 1959 and Deborah in 1962.
Alan traveled often as he rose through the ranks at the pharmaceutical research company Organon, part of Akzo Nobel. In 1974, Alan and Ann moved to the company headquarters in Oss, Holland. While living in Holland, Ann learned to speak the language fluently and made lifelong friends. Her daughters still remember Dutch phrases Ann would teach them as they met friends and neighbors.
In 1976, Alan and Ann moved to Azko Nobel's American headquarters in West Orange, New Jersey. Ann retired from gynecology and instead pursued her various interests in the arts. She learned to draw, sculpt and sew, even winning awards for her quilting prowess. There wasn't a quilting pattern or style she couldn't perfect; many of her grandchildren still sleep under blankets she made by hand.
Once Alan and Ann had both retired in 1984, they spent several years traveling between their homes in Winchester, England and Gainesville, Ga. In 2000, they moved to the drier climate of Tucson, Az. for Alan's health. The two loved living in their desert community and befriended the entire neighborhood of Saddlebrooke. Ann enjoyed walking in Catalina State Park and identifying the various flora and fauna populating their new home. After Alan passed away in 2003, Ann continued living in Arizona, teaching herself Spanish, hosting Bunco parties for her friends and even taking up lap swimming again at the age of 80.
But by 2011, she realized she wanted to be nearer to her children and grandchildren. She moved to Savannah, Ga., to be closer to her daughter Deborah's family. She moved into The Marshes in 2012 and immediately made friends in the flourishing community of seniors. In 2019, she celebrated her 90th birthday party with a giant party befitting the celebratory occasion, and a multitude of new friends and family toasted to her good health.
Loved ones remember Ann as an elegant and well-spoken woman. Her daughters credit her for instilling them with the characteristic English fortitude that so charmed people from all walks of life. Her grandchildren fondly recall her curiosity and open-mindedness.
Until her health declined later in life, Ann would still read the newspaper daily, and she made a point of keeping up with current events. In recent days, those who admired her have shared a host of adjectives to describe Ann, including "genuine," "kind," "appreciative," "respectful," "intelligent" and "honest."
As her health slowly declined, Ann took up residency in The Oaks in March of this year. She was only three weeks short of celebrating her 95th birthday when she passed away on Thursday, July 18. She will be greatly missed, but never forgotten. May she rest in peace.
A memorial service will be held at an undetermined time on Sunday, November 3, 2024 at the Bethesda Whitfield Chapel.