Ralph Arthur Taylor

01/19/1948 - 02/24/2026

Ralph Arthur Taylor, Jr passed away peacefully on the morning of February 24, 2026 at the age of 78. Born on January 19, 1948 in Washington, DC, Ralph never strayed too far from the DC area. He grew up in Falls Church, VA as the oldest of four siblings, and attended Falls Church High School where he was senior class president. His many childhood hobbies ranged from the accordion to ham radios to basketball, and that curiosity led him to study electrical engineering at Princeton University. He graduated from there in 1970 before obtaining his law degree from the University of Virginia in 1975 (it should come as no surprise that he graduated with honors from both institutions). He went on to work for several law firms in DC, making partner at Shaw Pittman, Dorsey & Whitney, and Arent Fox, where he stayed until he retired in 2019. An exceptional litigator, he appeared in publications such as Who's Who in America and was well-respected among his peers, as evidenced by his 2016 appointment to the American Bar Association's Standing Committee on the Federal Judiciary. For those privileged enough to know him well, he was goofy and lighthearted, quick with obscure anecdotes and not shy to profess his love of Star Wars, the Beach Boys, and Solitaire. He maintained a vibrant social life, enjoying lunches at the Metropolitan Club and tee times at the Chevy Chase Club, and he maintained his ties to Princeton and UVA through alumni groups and connecting with prospective students. He was a sharp legal mind to most, a mentor and confidant to many, and a loving friend, father, husband and brother to those few he kept close. He is survived by his wife of 38 years, Joanna Moorhead; his daughter Alison Taylor; his son Duncan Taylor and daughter-in-law Pamela Camel; his siblings and their spouses, Randolph & Margie Taylor, Ronald & Lynn Taylor, and Denise & Carl O'Malley; and several nieces and nephews. A memorial service will be held on March 5th at 10:30 am at National Presbyterian Church in Washington, DC. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Parkinson's Foundation.