Richard John Taylor

Richard John "Dick" Taylor, of Syracuse, New York, died peacefully in the arms of his loving family on Friday, March 6, 2009. Richard was born July 16, 1916 in Kenosha, Wisconsin to William J. and Ingaborg (Andersen) Taylor. Dick graduated from Fayetteville High School and was a 1938 graduate of Syracuse University with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. He was a member of Theta Tau engineering honorary society. Aviation was his passion and on his 16th birthday he became one of the youngest licensed pilots in the U.S. As a young man, he loved sailplanes and designed, built and flew his own glider. During World War II, he began his career as an aeronautical engineer at Curtis Wright Aircraft working on improving the P40. The majority of his career was spent at Cornell Aeronautical Laboratory/Cal-Span in Buffalo, New York, where he was a charter member and section head. He also contributed designs incorporated in other famous WW II aircraft. He was involved in defense design work on the Nike Zeus, first surface to air missile. He worked closely with the Navy and contributed the important new concept of defending our Navy fleet at long-range distance. This concept required the development, on which he worked, of a long-range air to air missile called the Eagle. That missile evolved into the Phoenix missile, which is still used today. Dick also contributed mathematical trajectory work for orbiting the moon and return. Before he retired to Titusville, Florida, he was technical coordinator for the B1 bomber. Mr. Taylor was more than an engineer and problem solver; to his family he was a Renaissance man. In personality, he was kind and gentle and always thought about family and others first. He became a Boy Scout and played lacrosse and hockey as a youth. He loved camping and the outdoors, especially the Adirondacks and spent many happy days sailing his boat with his family. Dick was a master craftsman and did woodworking and refinished antiques. He built and flew radio controlled airplanes, followed sports, played golf and was an avid SU fan, still attending all home basketball games. Upon retiring, he took up oil painting. To his family and friends he was known as "Luv". He is survived by his daughter, Kathleen (Jack) Goodman of Syracuse, New York; son, William (Bill) Taylor of Ocean, New Jersey and Loris, South Carolina; his grandson, Nicholas (Lindsay Walker) of Orlando, Florida; brothers, Roland (Patty) of Rochester, New York and Robert (Melba) of West Covina, California; and many beloved nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his wife of 56 years, Pauline Santello Taylor; sisters, Mary Sentz and Vangie Stanwick; and brother, William Higginbotham. Calling Hours: Friday, March 13, 2009, 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. at Ballweg and Lunsford Funeral Home, 4612 S. Salina Street, Syracuse, New York. Services: Saturday, March 14, 2009, 10:00 a.m. at the Alibrandi Catholic Center, 110 Walnut Place, Syracuse, New York. Burial will be in Onondaga Valley Cemetery, 2500 Valley Drive, Syracuse, New York. Memorial contributions may be made to American Cancer Society, 6725 Lyons St., PO Box 7, East Syracuse, New York 13057-0007.

Richard John Taylor

July 16, 1916 - March 6, 2009