WELLESLEY: Wm. Davis Taylor, age 56, died Thursday evening, April 27, 2017, after a brief illness. He was the devoted husband of Dawn (Lepanto) Taylor for 27 years.
Born in Boston and raised in Medfield, he was the son of Sally (Coxe) Taylor of Boston and Padanaram, and the late William O. Taylor. Davis was a graduate of both Charles River School in Dover and Middlesex School in Concord, and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Classics at Colby College in Maine.
Davis began his post-college career at the Boston Globe, where his father was the fourth generation of the family to serve as chairman and publisher. From there, Davis realized an increasing affinity for the outdoors, particularly tree preservation. He left the Globe to learn arborist skills at a local landscaping concern before setting up Hound Dog Tree in 1989, where he continued to work with clients to the present.
Davis’ affinity for the outdoors was also reflected in his great love of the seashore. He enjoyed visiting at his family’s home in Padaram, and the annual vacation to Provincetown with family and friends was a high point of each year. He also loved the northern woods, with a special affection for the ski slopes of the Mount Washington Valley.
Gifted with a talent for music and an undying love for Chicago-style blues, Davis was an exceptional blues harmonica player who often sat in on open mike nights and performed with area bands. He played as often as he could, and when not performing, could be heard playing with gusto at home.
Davis is also remembered for his sharp wit and ability to create sayings that turned into beloved catchphrases amongst his friends and family. An avid reader, Davis always maintained a tottering stack of books on his bedside table, most often the history books that he adored. He was particularly fond of World War II-era tomes, and often tuned his TV into black-and-white footage of the era.
He is survived by Dawn; their daughter, Piper Anna Taylor; his mother, Sally; two brothers, Ned Taylor and his wife Emily of San Francisco, and Gus Taylor of Maui; his parents-in-law, James Lepanto and his wife Joelyn Ainley of Greensboro, GA, and Ellen Tompkins and her husband Robert of Bridgeton, ME; a sister-in-law, Lauren Lepanto of Boston; nieces Molly and Madeline and nephews, Reef, Gabe, and Hugh.
His memorial service will be held on Saturday, May 6, 2017, at 10:00 a.m. at the Eliot Church of South Natick, 35 Eliot Street, Natick. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend.
Memorial gifts may be made in Davis’ memory to the Trustees of the Boston Public Library, President's Office, 700 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02116 (www.bpl.org).