MATTHEW TAYLOR

TAYLOR--Matthew Blake. We are heartbroken to share the passing of our beloved Matt during the week of March 23 at his home in Park Slope, Brooklyn. Matt, 52, had the biggest, warmest, most generous heart. He deeply loved his friends, family, and recovery community (as well as the backyard birds and squirrels, and the cats and dogs who brought him joy). We will never forget his empathy; sensitivity; enthusiasm; zany humor; quick wit; spot-on impressions; guitar and songwriting genius; delight in pop culture and sports; love of cross-country train travel; Scrabble brilliance; gift for storytelling and the written word; unpretentious commitment to grammatical correctness; uncanny memory; profound devotion to his nephews, sisters, "Pop", and mom; and his way of making each of us feel that he saw our very best self. Matt was open about his struggles with addiction and his work within his recovery community, so he would want us to acknowledge those struggles here. And while the disease was part of his life, he was not defined by it. His lasting mark on our planet will always be his kindness, his quiet generosity, his quest to be an agent for good. Matt was born in Wynnewood, PA, October 14, 1972. He was a graduate of The Miquon School, Germantown Friends School, and the University of Vermont. During his professional life, he was a staff reporter for The Boston Globe and for the Montpelier Times Argus. While living in Burlington, VT, he contributed exquisitely rendered articles to Seven Days, a weekly newspaper. Journalism ran in his veins, as he was descended from a long line of journalists, including his "Pop", Uncle Ben, and grandfather John I. He later cofounded Taylor Warwick Public Relations, with clients in New York and Philadelphia. Matt was dedicated to his AA community, chairing committees and volunteering on Friday nights to answer an AA hotline. He also served on his condo board and on the board of The Miquon School in Pennsylvania. Survived by his father, David Taylor; his sisters, Eliza Taylor and Susannah Conner; his nephews, Nathaniel Taylor and Kyle Conner; his stepsiblings, Rose, Hilary, and George Sargent; and by many aunts, uncles, and cousins; he was predeceased by his mother, Susan Taylor Conner. A celebration of Matt's life will be held in coming weeks. Contributions in Matt's honor may be made to The Miquon School, 2025 Harts Lane, Conshohocken, PA 19428.