Howard M. Taylor

Howard M. Taylor, 92
Family man, resident of Madison, New Jersey for more than 50 years

Howard Metcalfe Taylor, 92, died Saturday, March 19, 2011, in Dedham, Massachusetts.

Born to Grace Halpin Taylor and Howard Taylor, Sr. in 1918, Howard grew up in Brooklyn, and attended Brooklyn Polytechnic Preparatory Country Day School. During his childhood, he enjoyed spending summers in Huntington, Long Island and taking the trolley to Ebbets Field to watch his beloved Brooklyn Dodgers.

Howard graduated from Princeton University in 1940 and then served in the Army Air Corps from 1942 until 1946, spending most of the war in Duxford, England as an ordnance officer with the 84th Fighter Squad, 78th Fighter Group.

Howard worked in the insurance industry, first with the Meserole Insurance Group, and then with American Re-Insurance Company (now Munich Re).

In Madison, New Jersey, Howard served as Treasurer and Vestryman at Grace Episcopal Church, on the Board of Directors for the Southeast Chapter of the American Red Cross, and on the Board of Governors for the Madison Golf Club. In his recap for his 25th Princeton reunion, Howard wrote that his hobbies included, “golf and children, not necessarily in that order, except on Saturdays.”

But his greatest joy in life came from being a family man. He married Ruth Warner Eytinge in 1950, and together they moved to Madison and had four children. In 1967, Ruth died of breast cancer. In 1971, Howard married Elaine Hevener Leander who, with her four children, moved to Madison. Although the blended family (with five teenagers in 1971 when they married) was challenging at times, Howard and Elaine kept the family together with unconditional and steadfast love, and a hefty dollop of humor, their greatest legacy to their children.

Howard loved learning and teaching. During his retirement, he attended classes at Fairleigh Dickinson University, and read books on a wide variety of topics. He and Elaine traveled extensively, visiting countries in Europe, Asia and South America, and a number of their children benefitted from being invited along. As a teacher, Howard was remarkably patient and engaging; he worked on honing his children’s and grandchildren’s logical thinking skills and encouraged open-mindedness and curiosity.

Howard Taylor is survived by his wife, Elaine; his children and stepchildren and their families: Debbie (Brad) Watters of Needham, Massachusetts; Douglas Michael Leander of Portland, Oregon; Beth (Stow) Lovejoy of Summit, New Jersey; Tom (Rose) Leander of Hong Kong; Ellen (Kevin Morison) Leander of Washington, D.C.; David Taylor of San Diego, California; Joan (Tim) Flagler of Califon, New Jersey; and Jonathan Leander of Blue Ridge, Georgia. He is also survived by grandchildren Chris, Danielle and Sam Watters; Mike and Julia Leander; Alex, Steve and Ruthie Lovejoy; Jennifer and Mary Rose Winstanley; Nick, Frank, and Carl Morison; Drew, Grace, and Abigail Flagler; and William Leander. He is also survived by great granddaughter Nina Leander.

Howard was predeceased by his sisters, Marjory Pound and Janet Miller.

Richly blessed with parents and sisters who loved him, two amazing wives who shared more than 55 years of his life, eight children who kept him on his toes, and 18 wonderful grandchildren and great grandchildren, Howard considered himself a very lucky man.

Howard Taylor will be remembered for his commitment to family, sense of humor, love of learning, and humility. He was a good and generous man, and will be greatly missed.
A Memorial Service will be held at the Allin Congregational Church, 683 High Street, Dedham MA on Saturday March 26 at 2:0 PM, with a reception immediately following. Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Wellesley College, Office for Resources, 106 Central Street, Wellesley, MA 02481 or to Grace Episcopal Church, Grace Church, 4 Madison Avenue, Madison, NJ 07940-1433.

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