May your memory always be a blessing. 

I remember last summer we spent such a meaningful moment together connecting in our judaism and love of being jewish. We bonded over Israel, and I never got to tell you that this winter I finally made it there, in big part to your inspiration. You were the one who tipped me over the edge to go, and I will always be grateful to you for that. 

I remember the mezuzah you had around your neck. I remember in high school you always went out of your way to be kind to me. 

Min haShamayim Tenuhamu v'tanchumin 

My daughter Sofia met Josh as a counselor/lifeguard two summers ago, right after we were new to town.  He made her feel right at home here in Holliston in a big brother type way.  We continued to see him that summer lifeguarding and then again last summer, always sharing a big hello & some new life details.  We even met Haley at the lake as well, who was equally as lovely telling us about graduating from Bryant & starting her career.  They made such a sweet couple. We only knew them in passing, but even so our hearts are broken thinking they are no longer with us.  Prayers to their families during this difficult time, I can’t imagine the pain they are in.  May their spirits live on.

Our condolences to the Family.

The Brothers
Peter and Steven
Sharon, Ma

I have never met Josh but I do have a son who goes to Bryant and he immediately contacted me when he heard this tragic news 
I am so sorry and saddened for you his parents , family and friends 
I have been reading all of these posted memories and immediately it is apparent how loved and what a beyond special person he was. 
May all of the memories you have along with the memories all have shared with you  help you to get through your days ahead 
With love and compassion from a Bryant mom.    

I met Josh last summer in cape cod. He is truly one of the sweetest kids I’ve ever met. We connected over talking about relationship struggles and bar culture, and it was an instant friendship as I could tell he was genuine and he was really trying to be a better person. We talked for over an hour that night outside in the parking lot, took some selfies together to share with friends, and went our separate ways. I knew we would stay in touch; we both agreed it felt like fate to have met each other that night because we were both able to help each other with things we were struggling with. We texted a few times throughout the fall to ask how we were doing and to remind each other how much we appreciated that random encounter. 

I’m going to miss this man. He was a special kid with a heart of pure gold. I hope it helps to know how much he impacted me, a random 29 year old guy, at a time when I really needed some connection. Josh gave me life and reminded me that everyone is struggling under the surface, and that it doesn’t take much to help someone feel seen. I will keep him in my heart and the lessons he showed me with his huge smile, deep compassion, and boundless energy. Sending you all love and peace, and thank you for bringing such a good kid into the world.

Josh was my former student at HHS. He always had a way of making personal connections with people and he was just a really good person.  He had a bright future and was taken away from us too soon. I want to extend my deepest condolences to Josh's family and his many friends. He is already deeply missed. Rest in peace, my friend.

Josh and I are patrons of the same gym. He was one of the few people who would walk up to me and say hello with a sweet smile. He would always genuinely engage a conversation with everyone in the gym. He was very disciplined as I saw him pretty much every night at the weight-training area. 
I was in disbelief when I learned about his passing away, because I feel I just started getting familiar with this dude. Honestly I wasn't as close to him as most of the folks on this page, but I could tell he must've been a simple, lovable, candid guy.  R.I.P. Josh!

Josh brought so much warmth, positivity and energy to work at Lake Winthrop every day.  he formed strong bonds with so many campers and swimmers for Holliston Parks and Recreation and his legacy will have a positive effect on our work culture here for many years.  

I have one memory of Josh that I had not thought about in some time, but I haven't been able to stop thinking about the past few days. One Thursday afternoon in the summer of 2021 I was leaving camp and heading to my sister's wedding for the weekend and I told the group I wouldn't be around on Friday and that I hoped they'd finish the week strong and had a good weekend.  As we were leaving Josh called over to me and pulled me aside and proceeded to congratulate me and my family on my sisters wedding, and went on to ask me all about her, and my soon-to-be brother in law, and was so genuinely interested in it all and seemed so happy about it.  It really struck me as strange in the moment, but it is genuinely who he was.  He was deeply caring and very present.  When he was talking to you, that was all he really cared about.  It was his nature to actually learn about you, about what was going on in your life, and about how you were doing.  That is a truly rare quality and I'm sure it's why he clearly made so many deep connections in his life.   

Josh will be missed by everyone at Holliston Parks and Recreation. We will continue to honor his memory and we will strive to continue making strong deep connections within our community, as he would have done. 

Josh and I were buddies in elementary school and teammates when we began swim team in middle school. When I left the team, our conversations became less frequent, but our camaraderie remained. He never failed to be the friendliest face in every hallway, classroom, or parking lot I encountered him in.

When college began, I lost touch with most of my hometown friends. But lo and behold, when I made an instagram post reflecting on my first semesters, Josh left a comment right away expressing how he loved the caption and felt the exact same way. That simple comment honestly made my week.

Josh was truly and genuinely kind, thoughtful, and an amazing friend to all. זיכרונו לברכה‎. May his memory be a blessing.



My deepest sincere condolences to Josh’s family. I met Josh during Summer of 2016 while we were both in Israel. We flew back from Israel sitting next to each other and became friendly very quickly. Josh was such an outgoing, funny, great guy. I am blessed to have had the chance to have known him, even if not all too well. May his memory be such a blessing. ❤️

The kindest and most emotionally intelligent AZA of them all. May your memory always be blessed 🕯️

Josh was one of my many pseudo nephews. You will be deeply missed. Your smile was infectious and you always gave the best hugs, you always made it your mission to make everyone smile and have fun. My deepest condolences to your whole family, those related and those who you made into family. May your memory always be for a blessing. ❤️🖤

Josh was always a great friend to everyone he met and his smile and laugh was contagious. He would never hesitate to spark up a conversation and check in no matter how long it had been showing that he truly cared. He was an amazing person and just an all around great guy to be around. Rest in peace Josh you’ll be truly missed

I was Josh's 8th grade social studies teacher. Just absolutely gutted to learn of this loss. I remember Josh as an incredibly thoughtful, charismatic, happy-go-lucky student. 

Wishing his family and friends the very best.



Joshua was a genuine earnest soul who was always there and cared for those surrounding him. I’m so sorry for your loss. 

My deepest sympathy to all who loved Josh, especially his family. Josh was the best man I have ever met. I can’t put into words how blessed I feel to have known him and spent so much time with him. I will carry the impact he has had on me for the rest of my life. 

I have been very saddened to learn of Josh's passing. 

I knew Josh mainly from working with him at Parks and Recreation programs over many summers. As a lifeguard and counselor, Josh went out of his way to build relationships with kids and adults alike, was comfortable and confident around anyone, and had a positive energy and tangible sincerity about him. He really enjoyed chatting, often staying long after staff debriefs to discuss anything from the day's events to life's biggest milestones or questions. I will remember Josh for his upbeat nature, his smile and penchant for making others smile too, his genuine care for others, his very long pre-swing golf routine, his rambling highs-and-lows, his loving support of my family, and much more. I will always appreciate how much he was willing to give of himself to his job as a lifeguard/counselor and to others in his conversations and interactions. 

I offer my deepest condolences to his family and to Haley's family.

Josh and Haley, both of you had a presence that lit up every room.  So genuine & kind. Always making everyone feel included. I’m forever grateful to have met you both at Bryant. Your positive energy will always be remembered. You will be missed, rest easy🤍

My thoughts and prayers for the Taylor and Gens family 🤍

Josh was my first friend and my mom always said he was my first friend from birth.  I have so many video of us playing together as children and he helped make my childhood. Years later in 2021, we reconnected. I was at the gym and I got a tap on my shoulder, "Abby? Do you remember me!" and I said Oh my god Yes! Josh! How are you!" He seemed so excited to see me and it made me feel so special. Over the pandemic we continued to chat and reminisce about our childhood. Whenever I talked to Josh I always felt how genuine he was with his words. I always wanted to continue to reconnect with him one day-and I can tell he made the lives of so many people so much better. I will continue to remember him everyday. 

Josh, lamento tanto tu muerte. Fuiste de las personas mas genuinas y mas felices que tuve el privilegio yo de conocer. Nunca te olvidaré. Te deseo paz. A ti, y a tu familia. No puedo creer que te nos fuiste. Pero se que estas en un lugar mejor. Te llevare siempre en mis memorias y en mi corazón. 

Josh was always the best person to talk to when you needed a hype man. He had a way of looking at bad situations and putting a positive spin on them. He was a great friend, confident, and will be missed incredibly by everyone whose life he had touched. 

Rest in peace Josh ❤️

Josh was a student in my fourth grade classroom at Miller.  Even then he was a thoughtful and respectful young man.  My  deepest sympathies to family and friends who are suffering the loss of a life that was much too short!
                                                                         Elizabeth Shepard

Meeting Josh and becoming best friends with him and becoming apart of a loving friend group that I never was, is my best memory of high school. I had so much fun with josh, a kind, sweet soul. I’m lucky to have been friends with him. Josh genuinely cared about what was going on with his friends and their family and that meant a lot to me, to have such a caring friend like him. 

I first met Josh freshmen year at Bryant through Hillel. I was going through a difficult time and Josh reached out to me and instantly become one of my best friends at Bryant. He was my friend when no one else was. He and I would sit for hours in Salmo talking about religion, life and our problems. There were several times we got kicked out for sitting there too long after it had closed. His smile and spirit were infectious. He was always there when I needed him. He was always there for everyone. He had a pure heart of gold and was truly a friend to all. Anyone who knew him knew that he light up every room that he walked into. He radiated positivity and love for his family, friends, and especially Haley. He was the type of person that leaves an impact on anyone he met. His passing is a loss that will be felt by all. My heart goes out to his family. I will cherish our memories forever. Rest in peace Josh. Until we meet again my friend❤️

One of my favorite photos from Prom 2018. Josh is a friend to all, and after graduating together I was fortunate to stay in touch with him. He was always the first to reach out on my birthday each year and let me know that he was thinking of me, was so proud of who I was becoming, and hoping that I had the best day ever. Although sporadic, I was always grateful to get life updates from Josh, most recently hearing about his new job post-grad and his absolute adoration of Haley.

When I think of Josh the words I think of are kind, empathetic, loving, and genuine. One of my favorite memories that I think describes the way Josh walked through life was in senior year English class. After the bell rang, I thought I’d do him a favor by unplugging his laptop that was in the outlet beside mine…turns out his laptop was broken and needed to be plugged in in order to stay on. By unplugging it, I had consequently shut off his computer and erased all of his essay work from the entire day. Seeing the horror on my face and not wanting me to feel bad, he reassured me that it was “no big deal” and that he could easily rewrite the day’s work. While it still makes me giggle, it is an example of how truly thoughtful, empathetic, and kind Josh is. He made sure that those around him were happy and felt comfortable.

Thank you, Josh, for the memories, the laughs, the deep talks, and the life updates. I will continue to update you on my big life events as your legacy lives on.

All my love ❤️

The kindest, brightest person we could all call a friend. Josh always found a way to put a smile on my face and deeply cared about everyone he met. Love you man, and may your memory be a blessing

A beautiful soul taken way too soon. Josh, you were sincerely one of the realest and kindest people I had the pleasure of calling my friend.  Like many others, I’ll miss the good times we had on Burnap Road. Rest easy brother, you will be dearly missed by all of us. 

Josh was a truly extraordinary soul and I am grateful to have been able to meet him 15 years ago. I am lucky to have gotten to experience Josh’s friendship throughout different stages of our lives and to have watched him develop into a good man. 

One thing I loved about Josh is that he truly saw the good in people even when they struggled to view it for themselves. He was inviting to all and a truly vibrant person. His positive personality was truly an inspiration for all who met him. 

Josh, 
Thank you for the way you brightened our lives. You will be remembered forever through the lives of the people you changed. Love you, Jo. 

My wife and I only met Josh a few times while visiting our son Christopher at Bryant. He was friendly, engaging, caring and enjoying college life with his many college friends. When Christopher had his accident we really got to know how wonderful and special person Josh was. As soon as news broke in the Bryant community he was on the phone to us via Chris's phone. His concern for Chris was overwhelming, as was Haley's. He remained in contact with us and Chris throughout Chris's hospital and rehab stay and went out of his way to visit him in the hospital several times. He helped arrange a fundraiser for Chris at Bryant It was so nice to see him and thank him.  It is hard to comprehend the pain everyone feels for this tragic loss of this wonderful person. I pray everyone's special memories of Josh will help during this awful and difficult time. I know the memories that we have of Josh will be helpful as we mourn his loss.
Michael and Antonette Sheehan and Christopher Sheehan

No matter the place or the time, you always knew how to make each person feel welcomed and feel like a true friend. Your kindness and your energy will never be forgotten by anyone. I’ll love you always, brother. May your memory and Haley’s memory be a blessing.

Josh,

Your ability to treat others with kindness and support is something I will never forget. I will always remember your ability to light up every single room you walked in to. You will definitely be missed. Love you JST. 



You lit up a room with your smile. Becoming friends in high school you always made us feel welcome and some of our best memories were with you. Our condolences are with your family, and everyone that had the pleasure of being friends with you.

You were never once in a room where your presence was not known. You were the opposite of a fly on the wall in the best way possible. I love you, my brother for life.

No matter what the event, was better with my buddy by my side. Love you forever JST.

What an absolute loss this is. Losing someone this young with so much promise and love to give will never make sense. Josh was such a fun person to be around, probably why he was able to pull off a glued-on beard as well as anyone else in Fiddler on the Roof in 8th grade. What a joy it was to be in his presence, from sloshing his fake whiskey on stage during one number, to sharing a lab bench in middle school science. Though Josh and I were more so friends in passing, his smile was always infectious. I don’t think that smile will ever be forgotten from the minds of those he touched. Saying he will be missed doesn’t feel like enough, but it’s true to the fullest extent. To Josh’s family and friends, take care of yourselves and reach out for help when needed. To Josh, rest peacefully. 

     A rare breed in today's world, JST genuinely cares more for others than himself. He's someone you could always turn to on a bad day and trust would be there if you needed him. He celebrated every win no matter how small and believed in his friends to the fullest. Truly one of the most loving and outstanding people I've ever come across. Always a ray of sunshine even on the darkest of days. A piece of your light will remain in each of our souls but the world won't be as bright without you, words can't describe the pain. I love you brother. You are and will always be one of my closest friends. I'll do my best to carry on your ethos, thank you for everything.
 
Rest In Peace JST ❤  - Love Sweeeneeey

Josh,
I am heartbroken to know your journey on this earth ended, but I want you to know how loved you are. It is hard to explain to those who did not know you what an impact you made on this world. There was truly no one who disliked you as it is impossible not to love you. And Josh, you were right about graduate school. I did end up getting that interview. 

I find comfort knowing you and Haley are still together and looking over all of us. 

I will one day see you again and when I do, you better give me a big hug.

Love you always,
Sophie🤍🤟

Josh you were a very kind sole and you saw the best in everyone. You were very genuine and always an outgoing person. You were good spirited and always tried your best in everything you do. Enjoyed our talks and Going to miss you Josh and haley ❤️❤️. 

Josh,
I cannot express the sorrow I have knowing that the world has lost you. I wish I could articulate to all that did not know you what an amazing human you were. Everyone you met loves you as it is impossible not to. The kindness you showed will never be forgotten. I am so sorry your time on earth was cut short, but I find peace knowing you are looking over us all. And Josh, I did end up getting that grad school interview. You were right all along.

I hope you and Haley are doing well up there

I will one day see you again, and you better give me a big hug when I do🤍

Love you always,
Sophie 

As Haley’s friend and roommate in Bryant I got to see and hangout with Josh a few times. He always asked me how I was doing and was such a genuine guy. Everyone has such fond memories with the two of them & they both loved each other so much! Haley and Josh- your positive spirit and wonderful energy will be missed, miss you guys 🤍

Josh. 
I will remember you for your smile and genuine laugh. I will strive to bring joy into people’s lives the way you did and to greet everybody with love. I will remember you for your amazing memory and ironically your forgetfulness. 
Although I never got the chance to meet Haley, I know you two were meant for each other by witnessing the joy she brought you. 
Josh, I know you wanted to make a difference in this world and I hope you know that you achieved that. I love you. 

I was lucky enough to reunite with Josh only a couple weeks ago, alongside other old friends from BBYO (our Jewish youth group). He has always been such a light, and I'll never forget how excited he was to see me after so long. I'm so grateful to have that time with him, and celebrate an incredible life of kindness, laughter, and love for everyone around him. Everyone who knew josh (or JST, as we liked to call him) knew that they had met someone with an enormous heart. We will miss you so much.

It’s hard to find the right words. Josh used to come over to study with me for AP European History our junior year of high school, and he stayed for dinner once: my mom loved that he loved her cooking (it was a steak with a grape wine sauce) so much that he had multiple helpings of it. During the time I knew him best, he never let his own struggles or business affect how he treated anyone else: which was with pure, unadulterated kindness. He left such a good impression on everyone around him, and he’s someone I truly loved staying in touch with. We weren’t in the same circles, especially not through college, but we always made sure to stay connected: his loss has impacted me in ways I’ve never known, so all of my love goes to his family and closest friends. We were all so, so lucky to know him, and I hope we all learn to carry his charm with us through the rest of our own lives. Rest easy you two. 

Josh was an incredible friend and person. My brother Jackson had difficulties making friends and Josh was the kindness human being to him. He showed him patience and support and was just kind to everyone in general, regardless of people’s differences. I also looked up to the way he treated people and I aspire to treat people with the kindness he showed to everyone he came across. My condolences for his family and friends, he will be deeply missed. ❤️

Josh was the sweetest kid. It was hard not to love him. He always had something nice to say and wanted to be loved. All three of my daughters adored him, and he was so good to them. The world is a little less bright now that Josh isn't here. He could drive me crazy with the best of them, but his huge heart always won me over - enough that he, Julia and I have matching tattoos (Oh Josh... I still can't believe we did it!) We spent many late nights talking around a campfire, out in the lake, in my living room - he had a beautiful soul. Josh, I wish you could see now how loved you are by so many. 

My heart and thoughts go out to Michelle and Adam, their family, and everyone that joins them in mourning this loss.  Josh, you are forever missed. 

We were teammates for 10 years, we were friends for 15 and we are brothers forever. This world lost a beautiful soul  and spirit that will forever be missed. Words can’t describe how I feel right now but all I can say is that I am greatful to not only have you as a friend, but as a teammate as well. Always laughing, joking and competing to win in the end. See you on the other side my brother, it’s never goodbye. 



Growing up I had trouble making friends in school. Josh was in highschool classes with me. In those classes he consistently made an effort to include me and be kind to me and I never forgot it. Thank you for your kindness when I needed it most, Josh. You were such a wonderful human being.

I met Josh last summer at Camp Patoma. One of the first days of training, Josh came up to me and asked me about the Bryant T-shirt I was wearing, and we got to talking about my acceptance into Bryant and how he had just graduated from there. During that conversation, I could tell immediately that Josh was a kind-hearted person who genuinely cared. We had several other conversations after this, and he was always asking for updates about my roommate situation. He would also ask about my sister, Michelle, who he graduated high school with in 2018. I remember specifically during one conversation that he mentioned he really wanted to get married, and how he had just gotten a new job. Josh was a bright and cheerful soul who seemed to have his whole life planned out. That is what I admired about him. Because I was a new counselor, I didn't know a lot of what went on during camp, and I didn't have a lot of friends there. Josh was one of the first people at camp to make me feel included in activities. I think I will miss his smile the most. 

We had some amazing times together. I’ll never forget them or you. Rest easy. 🙏🏻

One of the nicest most genuine kids I’ve ever met. Always had a smile on his face and would brighten up my day when I’d see him on campus at Bryant. My deepest condolences to the Taylor and Gens families ❤️

Josh always had the brightest smile no matter the situation, and would always make anyone smile or laugh. I remember the times with him where our stomachs hurt from telling  jokes and sharing stories. The last time we shared a laugh was the thanksgiving reunion, where we couldn’t stop complimenting each other on our accomplishments throughout college. He will always be loved and remembered. Rest easy Josh ❤️

We are terribly saddened and so sorry to hear of the loss your beautiful son and Haley. My son Michael graduated with them and they attended his Graduation party where they both, individually stood out from the crowd with their engaging personalities and vibrance for life. I met them at graduation and again at Michael’s party and knew instantly what kind of great families they came from and how full of promise they were after graduating.  Words cannot describe how saddened we are for all of you.  We will keep you all in our thoughts and prayers. Michael is living in NC working and is so sad and heartbroken. We are all praying for you. 

Josh was a one of a kind person and a great friend of mine growing up. He lit up every room he stepped into and was the most positive person I have ever met. Every year on my birthday, Josh would write me a long note. It wasn’t your typical one sentence text message, but rather a sign that he truly cared. I looked forward to it every year. Josh will be missed deeply and I am grateful for the memories I had with him. 

OBITUARY

Joshua Seth "Josh" Taylor

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