Robert C. Taylor Jr.
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Published in October 2023
April 2, 1945 ~ October 5, 2023 (age 78)
Robert “Bob” Taylor of York, Maine passed away at his home, with his wife of 56 years by his side, after a courageous battle with ALS. He was 78.
Bob was born in Newport, Rhode Island, on April 2, 1945, to Robert and Winifred Taylor Sr. He was the first of their 5 children. He lived in Rhode Island and Maine as a child. One of his proudest childhood accomplishments was becoming an Eagle Scout.
He graduated from Bridgton Academy in 1963. From there he went off to Boston University. While attending school full time he started working nights in the computer room at Liberty Mutual Insurance Company in Boston in 1967. He graduated from BU with a degree in Mathematics in 1970.
Bob met and married the love of his life, Colette, in Boston in 1967. They went on to have 2 daughters, Jennifer and Rachel. After having their second child they decided it was time to move out of the city. They bought their first house in Ipswich, MA in 1971.
While living in Ipswich Bob discovered 2 of his passions – sailing and photography. He bought a 19-foot Cape Dory Typhoon. He named the boat “Aquidneck” after the Island of Aquidneck, better known as Rhode Island. The family spent many days during the summer beach hopping around the coast of Ipswich. Bob bought his first Nikon camera and began taking pictures of the family. From there he started taking nature photos. You could often find him out walking with the family snapping photos along the way.
In 1979, ahead of a transfer by Liberty Mutual from Boston to Portsmouth, NH, Bob and Colette decided to move to Maine. They quickly narrowed their home search down to York, ME. Bob fell in love with an old “fixer-upper cottage” on Roaring Rock Road. Despite going to see other houses, Bob kept bringing Colette back to the house on Roaring Rock Road which they eventually purchased. The next few years were filled with lots of house projects.
In all, Bob spent 33 years working for Liberty Mutual. Over the years he played many different roles at the company. His favorite role was that of Assistant Vice President of Research and Development. He was known for having a quiet sense of calm, but also for his ability to get things done while never having to raise his voice.
He built a beautiful life with Colette and their 2 daughters. They enjoyed many fun family vacations to places like Disney World, Washington DC, Stowe, VT, Bar Harbor, and Canada to name a few. He also enjoyed college tours with his daughters a tradition he continued with his grandchildren. On all these trips you could find him with his camera to capture all the wonderful memories and beautiful places.
When Bob retired in 2000, he began to explore his passion for travel with Colette. He and Colette had many adventures – Germany, Belgium, South Africa, England, Scotland, Jordan, Thailand, Yellowstone, and many, many more. In between the big trips they were often known to take quick trips within the state of Maine, often in search of a lighthouse. Many of these trips involved meeting up with family for all or just portions of the trip. As the years and trips went on you could find his camera collection getting bigger and bigger.
During this time, he was also able to take his photography from hobby to profession. He began showing his work at the York Art Association, Kittery Art Association, and Portsmouth Art Association. Additionally, he displayed photography at Starbucks in Portsmouth NH, Kittery Community Center, and the York Public Library. He also began selling his photography either through shows or private sales.
Bob loved being a grandfather to Max, Kyle, Madi, and Trevor. He’d often take the kids on solo or group adventures. He was always very well known at York events with his camera in hand. Some of his favorites were Little League, baseball, and softball events. While there he was always sure to support the concession stand by getting a hot dog. He was once heard saying had he known being a grandparent was so much fun he would have done that first. The kids always enjoyed his funny made-up stories, Grinch nights, and Sundae making.
Bob leaves a beautiful legacy. He was a quiet man who didn’t always have a lot to say. But make no mistake he never missed a trick. He taught us the value of a good handshake and hard work. He was a wonderful role model for honesty, hard work, and perseverance. He was the biggest cheerleader and supporter for his children and grandkids. He will be dearly missed by all those who knew him.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Bob’s name to Compassionate Care ALS.
Web: https://ccals.org/donate
Email: info@ccals.org
Address: P.O. Box 1052, West Falmouth, MA 02574
