Born in Morristown, New Jersey in 1939, the only son of John and Ardith Taylor, John suffered many heartaches at a young age. Born with congenital glaucoma, his parents advocated for his health and vision early on, beginning treatments and surgical interventions for his vision at just 4 months old, preserving his vision in one eye for his entire life. His father, Naval Motor Machinist’s Mate, 2nd Class John Taylor, IV, died April 9, 1943, due to injuries suffered in a military factory sabotage during WWII. Ardith was left to raise a genius on her own with only her widow’s benefits and her income as a hair stylist.
Despite these early devastations, John excelled academically from an early age, skipping both 2nd and 4th grades in his hometown of Boonton, New Jersey, before attending the prestigious Blair Academy on an academic scholarship at age 12 as a high school freshman.
Upon graduating at age 16, John continued his education at Middlebury College and Fairleigh-Dickson College, eventually earning both a bachelor’s (1966) and a Master’s degree (1968) in German Literature from Arizona University, as well as another Master’s Degree in Linguistics (1971) and a PhD in Theoretical Linguistics (1973) from Indiana University.
John met and married his first wife Mary Estelle Vaiana Bryant during his time at Indiana University. Upon graduation, the couple moved to California, before accepting posts as Fullbright lecturers overseas.
John served as a Fulbright Lecturer in Linguistics at the Marie Curie University in Lublin, Poland, from 1974 through 1976. Behind the Iron Curtain, he served not only as a lecturer, but also as a liaison between the US Embassy Cultural Department and the universities English Department, and gave several lectures throughout East Germany and Poland.
Returning to California, John sought to continue his career in academia and public service, and was accepted into the Foreign Service, but faced discrimination for his physical disability. He was ultimately excluded from the Foreign Service due to his monocular vision under a policy that has long since been overturned for its prejudicial nature.
Determined to move forward, John presciently pivoted his career toward the emerging computer industry, going to school for computer programming in 1977. John went on to work as a systems analyst in California for several national corporations over the next several years, including MCA Inc. (now Universal Studios), GTE Data Services (now Verizon), and Occidental Petroleum Corp., to name but 3. He created and installed many of the early software systems used in those companies, most notably the payroll system used for the cast and crew of the television show Magnum, PI.
It was in 1980, shortly after the end of his first marriage, John met his second wife, Ann Cox, at a church weekend retreat. The couple married in 1983 and began a family within the year. John’s computer engineering career took his new family across the country, relocating to the east coast in the late 1980’s, and eventually settling in Raleigh, North Carolina, in 1991.
John served as a private contractor for the US Postal Service for most of the 1990s before finishing his career with the North Carolina State Highway Patrol. In his few short years there, John created the first computer database used by the highway patrol officers in their patrol cars. He retired in 2005.
During his retirement John continued to explore his interests, becoming a Free Mason of North Carolina obtaining a Real Estate license. He eventually moved to Durham, North Carolina, and then to Cincinnati, Ohio, to be close to family.
John will be remembered by all who knew him for his dry wit, his love of languages, passion for travel, and his independent spirit. His friends and family will remember his tender heart, sharp acumen, humorous word play, passion for German culture, and incredible stories of life in communist Poland. He loved to garden, spend time with close friends and family, and take long walks in nature.
John is preceded in death by his parents, Navy MoMMC2 John Taylor, IV, and Ardith Taylor (nee Haiges), a stillborn sister, and many beloved cousins. He is survived by his wife Ann (nee Cox), his children, Luke, Alexandra (Alex), and Rebecca (Beckie) Thomas, his daughter-in-law Erin Dobbins, his son-in-law Ian Thomas, his grandson Todd, and many extended family.
The family will hold a memorial service on June 6, 2024, from 6-8 p.m., at Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, 1701 E. Millbrook Rd., Raleigh, NC 27609. John loved flowers so the family welcomes them, but those who would prefer to make a donation in his honor may donate to Hospice of Cincinnati.
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