John C. Taylor

John Cowdery Taylor (Jack), husband, father, grandfather, (and passionate peruser of periodicals) passed away August 2nd, 2018 after a long and interesting 94 years of life. Jack was born in 1923 in Shanghai to Walter and Anne Taylor during the two decades his father spent as a missionary chemistry professor in China, fondly remembering his early expatriate years throughout his life. He first arrived in America to attend Episcopal High School in Alexandria, Virginia in 1938. Moving on to Princeton University in 1941, his college career was interrupted by WWII. Jack flew 35 combat missions over Germany with the 8th Air Force’s 452nd Bomb Group, serving as a navigator on a B-17, before returning to graduate in 1947, as part of the Class of ’45. Many of his closest lifelong friendships were formed after his return to Princeton, particularly singing the university’s a cappella group, the Nassoons. Jack’s first career as a sales representative in the steel business lasted 13 years, and led him to Buffalo, New York where he met Wende Bennett. After a sometimes long distance courtship, they married in 1958, and welcomed daughter Wende in 1960. Son Jonathan followed in 1964 during a brief residence in Chicago. With a young family in tow, Jack relocated to West Hartford, CT in 1966 to begin work at Pratt & Whitney Aircraft’s commercial jet engine division. Over the next 26 years, he represented Pratt & Whitney to airline clients in the United Kingdom and Middle East, particularly relishing travel to call on clients in the British Isles. In West Hartford, Jack also became a mainstay at St. John’s Episcopal Church, where he was a long-time lay reader, served on the Vestry, and had a long run as one of the Three Wise Men in the annual Christmas pageant (always Balthazar). After arriving in Connecticut, Jack also began singing with ‘The Spare Parts,’ lending his distinctive bass vocals to the local a cappella group for nearly 30 years. Retiring in 1992, Jack stepped up his volunteering, working with Meals on Wheels, The American Red Cross, and CRIS, Connecticut Radio Information System, where he read newspapers for blind listeners across the state. Jack was predeceased by his wife, Wende, and his sister Anne Taylor. He is survived by his sisters Harriet Taylor, of Gainesville, FL, and Wickham Henkels, of Auburn, Alabama; daughter Wende Wheeler of Longmeadow, MA, son Jonathan Taylor and daughter-in-law Stefanie Taylor of Los Angeles, CA along with grandchildren Annie and Ben Wheeler, and Elby, Sadie and Xander Taylor. A Celebration of Life will be held on Tuesday, August 28th at 11 a.m. at St. John’s Episcopal Church in West Hartford. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to St. John’s Church, 679 Farmington Avenue, West Hartford, CT 06119.

John C. Taylor

August 2, 2018