Mr. William O. Taylor

TAYLOR, William Osgood II Publisher of The Boston Globe from 1978-1997, passed away Sunday evening at home with loved ones around him, after a more than two-year battle with brain cancer. The fourth Taylor to serve as publisher of the Globe, Mr. Taylor cherished his role and demonstrated a deep regard for his responsibility. His great-grandfather, Charles H. Taylor became publisher in 1873, followed by his son William Osgood Taylor, and then his grandson William Davis Taylor, who was William Osgood Taylor II's father. During his 19 years as publisher of the Globe the newspaper won 9 Pulitzer Prizes, journalism's highest award, a reflection of Mr. Taylor's strong journalistic sense and integrity. Drawing on his sharp business acumen, Mr. Taylor led the Globe and Affiliated Publications to remarkable financial success. He negotiated the sale of the Globe to The New York Times Company in 1993. Modest, self-effacing, and compassionate Mr. Taylor was beloved by family and Globe employees, who admired him for his personal approach to management. Mr. Taylor also cared greatly about the Boston community, actively participating in many local institutions in leadership positions. Memorial contributions in his memory, may be made to to the Associates of the Boston Public Library, 700 Boylston St., Boston, MA 02116, attention to the William O. Taylor Fund, which is dedicated to the conservation of historic photographs, prints and drawings, and works of art in the Boston Public Library's Special Collections; The William O. Taylor Environmental Youth Scholarship Fund, c/o Lloyd Center for the Environment, 430 Potomska Road, South Dartmouth, MA 02748; or to The Memorial Church, Harvard University, One Harvard Yard, Cambridge, MA 02138. A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, May 21, 2011 at 11:00am in The Memorial Church, Harvard University, One Harvard Yard.