ROCKPORT: John A. Taylor, late of Rockport, died peacefully on the
morning of Thursday, Feb. 15, 2007 less than two weeks short of his 95th
birthday.
Mr. Taylor lived a full and gracious life despite the obstacles presented
by a severe case of polio. He never let his infirmity stand in his way. As
a young man, he enjoyed riding horses. No matter how many times he fell
off, he pulled himself up and climbed back on.
Before his illness, he was suspended from Gloucester High School for
wearing a red sweater with holes in it, which was unacceptable according
to the existing dress code. Unable to afford a new sweater, he stayed at
home. It was during that time that he was stricken with polio. His
recovery and rehabilitation occupied most of his teenage years. He
returned to high school as a freshman at the age of nineteen, almost as
old as some of his teachers. He graduated with the class of 1933 and
attended Boston University for two years.
Mr. Taylor had a warm, cheerful, upbeat personality, and was gregarious
and outgoing until the end of his life. A steadfast friend to people from
all walks of life, he and his wife shared their lives with their extended
family and maintained relationships with the many friends they met during
their lives together. John is remembered for his kindness and generosity.
One winter night, not many years ago, he arose at four in the morning and
waited by the window to be certain he could intercept the man delivering
the Globe to give him a birthday gift. Everyone who came to his home was
invited to dip into the M&M jar.
Over his lifetime, Mr. Taylor was a man of many vocations. As a child he
was a printer's helper and worked at a shoe shine parlor on Main Street.
Later, he was a taxi driver and chauffeur. In 1933 he drove two Bass Rocks
residents to the Chicago World's Fair and back. When he was in his
twenties he and his partner Duke Lynch operated a Ford dealership on Cape
Ann. The late 1930s found him working in Gloucester for Clarence Birdseye.
In 1941 he moved to Brooklyn, N.Y., with his wife and baby daughter to
work at Wabash Electric Company. It was there that their son was born.
Later Wabash became Sylvania and when the Taylor family permanently
returned to Gloucester, he worked first as a purchasing agent in the
Boston plant and later, as director of purchasing in Woburn. During this
time, John opened three Dairy Queen franchises. The first was located at
the current Cupboard in Stage Fort Park, subsequently moving to Rocky
Neck. There was one in Lynnfield and another in Kingston. Following his
retirement from Sylvania, he became a partner in Brown Diamond, a Rhode
Island company that marketed industrial diamonds. In the late 1960s he and
his wife Charlotte built a home on Marmion Way, Rockport and from there he
made the arduous commute to and from Providence until the mid 1970s.
Mr. Taylor delighted in his children, his grandchildren and his
great-grandchildren, and would do anything to help them. He dispensed such
practical wisdom as "never let your gas tank be less than half full during
the winter" and provided any and all sorts of support and hands on
assistance. He was the kind of grandfather who built doll houses, helped
grandkids begin their own coin collection and spent time working after
school on an elaborate electric train set-up with a grandson.
Even in retirement, Mr. Taylor was never idle for long. From the mid 1970s
through the mid 1980s he volunteered with the American Red Cross and drove
many cancer patients, young and old, into Boston for treatment. Some of
these families became dear friends. In later years, he and his wife
volunteered at the Rockport Public Library. Fluent in Gloucester history
and lore, he delighted in driving friends around the Cape, regaling them
with lively and entertaining commentary as he pointed things out; all the
while with Charlotte telling him to "keep your eyes on the road, John." He
was a parishioner of St. John's Episcopal Church in Gloucester and a Mason
and 50 year member of the Acacia Tyran Lodge and the Ipswich Ferson
Chapter.
Mr. Taylor was best known as a storyteller, his repertoire resulting from
his colorful and adventuresome life. In his later years, he became
repetitious in his storytelling; often prefacing the tale by asking if the
listener had already heard this particular one and then, regardless of the
response, continued right on with it. He told of his adventures flying in
a small plane, owned by his friend Bob Wharton, to Florida and back in the
early days of aviation. On another occasion they dropped leaflets onto
Main Street to advertise a silent film made on Salt Island and were cited
for flying too low over a public area. He often repeated the story told by
his mother when money was tight, explaining that the reason there would be
no presents on Christmas morning was because Santa and his team of
reindeer, trotting down the boulevard, were unable to come into Gloucester
because the Cut Bridge was up. Many more stories could be told if space
allowed; these three will suffice.
One life long friend said of Mr. Taylor, "He lived a full life and enjoyed
making life enjoyable for others." Another said of him, "John Taylor was
the standard for love, laughter, wit, and a life well lived. He leaves us
with treasured memories." He will be missed.
Mr. Taylor was born in Gloucester on March 6, 1912 to Alphonse (Bill) and
Elizabeth (Doucette) Taylor. He grew up in the family home on Union Hill,
the current site of Flanagan's gas station. He was married for 67 years to
the late Charlotte McLoud Taylor and is the father of Susan Taylor
Richardson of Gloucester and Norman McLoud Taylor and his wife Cheryl, now
living in Waycross, Ga.
He also leaves behind his grandchildren, Scott Taylor and wife Becky,
David Taylor and wife Victoria, Deborah Taylor, Anne Ronan and husband
Michael, Rebecca Gibbs and husband Glenn, Benjamin Richardson and fiancé
Courtney Murphy, Jennifer Fowler and husband Eric, Michael Goggin and
Christopher LeBlanc; great grandchildren, Jacob Taylor, Sarah and Morgan
Taylor, Wyatt and Morey Ronan, Anna and Benjamin Gibbs and Drew Fowler.
Also surviving him are three step-grandchildren, Judith Sowada and husband
Ernie, David Richardson III and wife Sybil, Peter Richardson and wife
Wendy; and eight step-great-grandchildren, Matt and Jane Sowada, Abigail
and Zachary and Chloe Richardson and Liza, Andrew and Christopher
Richardson; as well as infant great-great-grandson, Caden Sowada.
Mr. Taylor also leaves behind cousins, Doris Martin and Alice Hall
Brayman; niece, Jane Taylor; and nephews, Doug Taylor and his namesake,
John A. Taylor; as well as extended family and numerous friends.
He was predeceased by his wife and parents; his brother, Joseph Taylor and
wife, Sydney; brother, Norman Taylor and wife Marjorie; and his
son-in-law, David Richardson Jr.
A memorial service for Mr. Taylor will be held on Saturday, May 12th in the St. John’s Episcopal Church, Middle Street, Gloucester at 11:30 A.M. Relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend. In keeping with his wishes, his ashes will be dispersed at sea. Gifts in his memory will be welcomed by the Rockport Public Library, 17 School St., Rockport, MA 01966 or Cape Ann Animal Aid Association Inc, 260 Main St., Gloucester, MA 01930.