The Hon. Carl E. Taylor

The Honorable Carl E. Taylor, 69, of West Hartford, died on October 1, 2025, after an extended illness. Born in Washington, D.C., on July 21, 1956, he was the son of Orlene and John Willis Taylor, Sr. From the age of four, Carl spent his childhood and teenage years helping his father in the family garage. By the time he was a teen, clients often asked whether Carl was available to work on their vehicle. He attended the Taft School for two years and spent his final two years of high school at the Bullis School in Maryland. He graduated from Wesleyan University in 1978 with a double major in History and Sociology and was a member of both the Wesleyan Football and Lacrosse teams. No one was a greater fan of Wesleyan Lacrosse and when, in 2020, Wesleyan won the NCAA Lacrosse Championship, Carl was extremely proud to be one of the people photographed holding the trophy. Carl graduated from the University of Connecticut School of Law in 1981 and in 1982, began a 43-year-career serving the people of the state of Connecticut within the criminal and juvenile justice system. He served for 19 years as an Assistant State's Attorney, in both New Britain and Hartford. During this time, the New Britain Police Department gave him an award for his service in teaching seminars to educate police officers on legal issues. In 2001, he was appointed to the bench. His appointment to the judiciary was a source of immense pride for his family, who cherished his professional achievements and lifelong commitment to justice, fairness and service. He presided as a judge for 24 years in numerous locations and positions, including Hartford G.A. 14 and J.D., Hartford Juvenile, Manchester G.A. 12, Meriden G.A. 7 and J.D., the Regional Child Protective Session Court in Middletown, New Britain G.A. 15 and J.D., New Britian Juvenile, Rockville G.A. 19, Rockville Juvenile, and Waterbury Juvenile. In 2024, the New Britain Bar Association awarded him the Liberty Award for 42 years of public service. Carl's true love in life was youth lacrosse. He coached middle school teams for West Hartford Youth Lacrosse for 42 years, coaching hundreds of youths, including the sons of players he had coached in previous decades. In 2016, he was inducted into the Connecticut Lacrosse Hall of Fame in recognition of his service as a coach. He followed those players, watching them play for Conard or Hall High or the Kingswood Oxford School and for various colleges. He is survived by his wife, Shari J. Cantor, his son, John W. Taylor, III, his nephew, Gilbert Bussey, Jr. and wife, Teresa Bussey and children, Camile and Caden Bussey, his best friend, the Honorable Nicola Rubinow, and many cousins, nieces, nephews, friends and colleagues. He was predeceased by his parents, his brothers, Robert, Lloyd, and John Willis Taylor, Jr., and his sister, Jane Bussey. The family wishes to thank all the staff at UConn John Dempsey Hospital for their exemplary care for him during his hospitalizations during the last three months of his life. In lieu of flowers, donations in Carl's memory can be made to Wesleyan University at https://www.wesleyan.edu/giving/. His funeral will take place at Fairview Cemetery, 200 Whitman Avenue, West Hartford at 11:00 am, Monday, October 6, 2025.