In Memoriam: William F. Taylor '79
William Fayette Taylor '79
October 21, 1951 - October 9, 2006
Bill Taylor died in Berkeley on Monday, October 9. He was a lifelong, passionate advocate for the poor, the disenfranchised, and the abandoned. He was 54. He was the beloved husband for over 20 years of his wife Pamela. She survives him, as does his daughter Adriana, 19; his mother Esther Hougen Taylor; sister, Martha Taylor Antoniewicz; and brother, Richard Taylor, all of Madison, Wisconsin; his nephews Mark Antoniewicz of Washington D.C., and Benjamin Antoniewicz, also of Madison; and first cousins, Sarah Taylor and Melinda Taylor of Los Angeles, and Jonathan Taylor of Santa Rosa; and his extended family through marriage. He was preceded in death by his father, Fayette Gere Taylor.
Bill was born on October 21, 1951, in Washington, D.C. Bill attended elementary school primarily in Los Angeles. Schools in Los Angeles included 54th Street Elementary, Audubon Jr. High School and two years at Dorsey High School. He finished at Redwood High School in Marin County in 1969. Bill graduated from the University of Oregon in Eugene, where he majored in political science. He was a member of the group of students who founded the first public interest research group in Oregon, which was approved by Ralph Nader and was the model for UC Berkeley's Calpirg. He also worked on aging issues, helping to draft Nursing Home Reform Legislation; he championed its successful passage in the state of Oregon. His interest in public policy continued during two years as an aide to City Councilman, (then County Supervisor), Ed Edelman in Los Angeles. He worked on many constituent issues during his tenure with Supervisor Edelman; again, his focus was on healthcare and mental health issues, in a district representing 1.4 million constituents.
Bill attended UC Davis School of Law, graduating in 1979. He was active in local political issues while a student in Davis. Bill practiced law in Berkeley and other parts of the Bay Area for 26 years. His early commitment to the rights of elders in nursing homes continued in the Bay Area. He was a pioneer in nursing home abuse litigation, in resident rights issues and in many other areas affecting elders in California. He was a part of the California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform organization and family since its inception in Berkeley in 1984. He was a tireless advocate for justice. The Berkeley Gray Panthers in 1984 described Bill as "that wonderful crusading young lawyer from Berkeley." He never wavered on his support of the poor, the disenfranchised or the abandoned. Bill volunteered and supported other community groups in Berkeley, including the Berkeley Historical Society and Berkeley Methodist United Church. He was a member of the Berkeley Breakfast Club and local bar associations.
Bill's unfailing sense of humor was always a comfort to those around him; and he will be remembered for his ability to lighten up even the sourest of moods. He took great pleasure in the art of the conversation and was ever eager to impart knowledge which he found interesting to others. His love of jazz, the natural world, history, architecture, and poetry (not to mention politics) will be sustained by those who knew him. He was someone who cared very deeply for the world around him and was highly empathetic to all who crossed his path.
Friends are invited to celebrate his life at a Memorial Service on Saturday, November. 11, 2006 at 1:00 pm at the Berkeley Methodist United Church, 1710 Carleton St., Berkeley, CA 94703.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Bill's honor for his daughter's education can be made to: "The William F. Taylor Memorial Fund," c/o California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform, 650 Harrison St., 2nd Floor, SF, CA 94107; or to The William Fayette Taylor Scholarship in Political Science at the University of Oregon, c/o University of Oregon Foundation, 360 E. 10th Ave., Suite 200, Eugene, OR 97401; or to the The William Fayette Taylor Fund at the UC Davis School of Law, 400 Mrak Hall Dr., Davis, CA 95616-5201. Or out of respect for his tireless commitment to community work, you can volunteer time in your local city or community.