Marion T Dann

Marion “Taddy” Dann (nee Taylor) died peacefully in her home, East Aurora, NY. Wife of the late William “Bill” Dann, she is survived by sons Jake (Donna) and Mike (Kelly Higgins) Dann and grandchildren Jesse, Ashley (Ian Ward), Lindsey, and Katie Dann. Parents Peach and Reg Taylor raised Taddy and late siblings Peggy and Tony at “The Paddock” in Williamsville, close enough to The Park School that she rode a horse to middle school until the boys teased her for smelling like a horse.

After graduating from Miss Porter’s School and Briarcliffe College, Taddy taught art and coached sports at The Park School. With a break to raise the boys, she returned to coach field hockey and lacrosse. Her players selected their lacrosse sticks, hand-crafted by the Tuscarora Patterson family who also played and coached. As a pioneer of women’s lacrosse, Taddy and Gail Patterson were inducted into the WNY Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 1966 and 1965, respectfully. Always active, Taddy was an accomplished sailor, skier, and tennis player with an “elbow-up” slice. She also served on the board of The Park School 1961-73 and 1975-84.

As her mother Peach Taylor, Taddy was an accomplished artist, exhibiting works at both The Albright-Knox and Burchfield Center galleries. She completed welded sculptures in the studio of Larry Griffith. The artist and teacher converged in two children’s books—The Perils of Pauvre Philippe (French translation and origami cut outs) and Beaver Meadow (coloring book on the life of a beaver). Proceeds went to the Park’s lacrosse program and Beaver Meadow Audubon Center. She also served on the boards of the Albright Knox Art Gallery and Planned Parenthood.

After moving to East Aurora in 1967, Taddy volunteered to band birds at Beaver Meadow Audubon Center (Java, NY), beginning a passionate focus on nature education, serving as a tour leader, outreach teacher, exhibit specialist, and Audubon board member. Perhaps Taddy’s biggest joy was taking kids to a pond to scoop up insects and identify them, complemented by volunteering to sort and identify insects at the entomology lab, Buffalo Museum of Science, and sending her sons off with film canisters to bring back exciting new insects for her private collection.

Taddy was best known for her positivity and interest in other people.

The family will have a private service at Forest Lawn. A Celebration of Life gathering will be held at Beaver Meadow Audubon Center at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations in her name to either The Park School of Buffalo or to Beaver Meadow Audubon Center.