John Robert Taylor, 88, passed away peacefully at his home in Hyannis Port, MA on October 15, 2021. He was born in Providence, RI on August 7, 1933 to John Leonard and Gladys Moulds Taylor, the fifth of their six children and the second to be born in the United States after his parents emigrated from the United Kingdom.
John graduated from Lockwood High School in 1951 and the University of Rhode Island in 1955, where he was a proud member of Phi Delta Gamma fraternity. The stories of his hijinks with fellow fraternity members are legendary. Following college, John served as a procurement specialist with the U.S. Army for two years and loved to regale his family, especially his daughter, with tales of issuing orders to large numbers of attorney underlings.
John was the Chief Financial Officer of Etonic, Inc., where he was employed for over thirty years. It was a perfect fit as Etonic’s main product was golf shoes, and this allowed John to be fully immersed in the industry of his favorite sport - golf. John loved to tell the tale of the night he “slept with” Jack Nicklaus while at a golf show, and he proudly displayed the photo of himself with Arnold Palmer, in glorious ’70’s attire, in the family living room.
John was a longtime and very active member of the Hyannisport Club. He served as the Club’s President from 1985-1991, and his presidency was bookended by two year terms as Vice President/Treasurer. He was also a member of Grand Harbor in Vero Beach, Florida, where he spent his winters in retirement.
In his younger years, John loved to golf, sail, fish and picnic with his close circle of friends and family. Typical summer days would start with an early morning fishing trip to “the Horseshoe”, where he was the “master of the umbrella rig”, usually followed by golf at Hyannisport. Afternoons meant sailing to Great Island for a beach picnic with family and friends, where he just may have accidentally poached a stray quahog or two – “left big toe” he would instruct his children, as they dove underwater to retrieve his finds. Other afternoons he would race his Wianno Senior with his best friends and a cooler of Rolling Rock. There was no shortage of adventures when on the water with Captain John.
John was a very enthusiastic and vocal sports fan throughout his life, to which all of his neighbors’ and his beloved Weimaraners can surely attest. In his later years, he also became very active in one-sided debates with his favorite television political personalities, much to his family’s chagrin. If you knew John, you know that he showed his affection for his friends and family through sarcasm and ample doses of instruction/advice — it was simply his way. Above all, John loved a good time. His big-hearted laugh and even bigger personality will be deeply missed.
John is survived by his loving wife of 60 years, Judith (Rounds) Taylor, daughter Tracey L. Taylor, of Cummaquid, MA, son Scott T. Taylor, of Roswell, GA, granddaughter Taylor G. Eastman, brother Ronald P. Taylor (Mary), of Plantsville, CT, and several nieces and nephews. A celebration of his life will be held at the Hyannisport Club on November 13th. In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate tribute donations to Alzheimer’s Association and VNA Hospice of Cape Cod.
Celebration of life will be held on Saturday November 13, 2021 from 1-3pm at the Hyannisport Club, 2 Irving Ave, Hyannisport, MA..
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