Born Royal Clinton Taplin in Nyack Hospital on June 26, 1934 to Royal W. and Martha Scott Taplin, he lived all of his life in Rockland County for a three-year stint in the US Army.
He was a graduate of Spring Valley High School and Fairleigh Dickinson University.
For three decades Mr. Taplin worked as a news reporter with the Journal New and Bergen Record. He frequently said his newspaper career began at age eight when started delivering papers in South Nyack. His most recent position was as an analyst for the NYC School Construction Authority's Office of Inspector General where he specialized in studying the impact of organized crime on public school construction projects.
As a journalist he won a number of awards from New Jersey Press Association, the Society of Professional Journalists, and the Society of the Silurians. When not reporting the news, Mr. Taplin was an outspoken advocate for improved care of the mentally ill and worked constantly to change the public perception of mental illness.
An active churchman, Mr. Taplin was a member of St Paul's Episcopal Church, Spring Valley, for more than 35 years and longtime parishioner at Grace Episcopal Church in Nyack NY.
When not otherwise occupied, he spent time traveling in Europe and Central America, photographing and gardening.
His 11 year marriage to late Katherine Jones Taplin ended in 1969 and his
marriage to late Annette Gradnauer Lundgren ended 2001. He is survived by two stepchildren, Kurt E. Lundgren of New City and Karen A. Lundgren of Royal Palm Beach, Fl.
Also surviving are brothers, Grant B. Taplin of Paris, France, Harry L. Taplin of Chelmsford, Mass, his longtime companion Sarina Gwirtzman of New York City, grandchildren, nieces, and nephew.
A wake shall be held at Higgins Funeral Home in New City New York on May 10, 2021 from 5-9pm. Services are set for Grace Episcopal Church, Nyack, at 11:00 am with interment at the columbarium of the Cathedral Church of St. John the Devine, Manhattan at a later date. In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to Hospice of Rockland or to the Rockland County Mental Health Association.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18