Donald H. Taylor, Jr.

Donald Harris Taylor, Jr, 74, of Madison, New Jersey, passed away peacefully at home on Wednesday, November 22, 2023. Donald was born in Providence, Rhode Island and lived the last 50 years in Madison.

Donald spent his youth in Rhode Island. He attended Moses Brown School in Providence and completed high school at Cornwall Academy in Great Barrington, Massachusetts. He received his Bachelor of Arts in 1972 from Morris Harvey College (now the University of Charleston) in West Virginia and his Master of Theological Studies in 1974 from Drew University in Madison, NJ. Donald worked for Smythe Volvo in Summit for over 30 years.

Being a descendent of a ship's captain - John Taylor, of London, married in Nova Scotia to Alice Potts of St. Margaret's Bay, in 1834 - Don loved sailing. As a teenager, he took sailing lessons in 13.5’ Blue Jays, in the early 1960s, at Conanicut Yacht Club on Narragansett Bay. Don’s father bought a yellow Blue Jay, renamed Dolybrie, and Don sailed it, maintained it, and for one year campaigned it in the weekly Narragansett Bay Yachting Association weekend Blue Jay races. Only a few years ago he got back out on the water, serving as a crew member on a J 30 and racing in Wednesday night races sponsored by the Raritan Yacht Club on Raritan Bay. At the end of his life, Don recalled his sailing adventures as some of the best times he ever had.

As a lover of adventures, Don purchased two Cessna planes in the 1980s and enjoyed flying them in his spare time. He turned this hobby into a career, forming an aviation flight school.

Don’s life-long love of the ancient world, including Greek, Hebrew, Judaica, and Old Testament studies, was sparked by a summer trip between his junior and senior high school years to Rome and the Greek Islands. Up until the Covid pandemic began, Don attended weekly local Torah classes. He continued to consult and study the scholarly books on the Old Testament until the last few days of his life and reported finding consolation in the book of Nahum.

Don was the beloved husband of 40 years to Diane and devoted father to Rachel Feinberg and her husband Todd; Nate Taylor and his wife Claudia; Matt Taylor and his wife Afton; Scott Taylor; Donald Taylor III; Jeb Taylor; and Cory McKee. He was the cherished grandfather of Mateo Taylor, Mark Taylor, Arielle Feinberg and Eli Taylor. He leaves behind his dear brother Brecken Taylor and his wife Michelle; Lynne Dente and her husband John; and Elizabeth Taylor. He is also survived by many loving nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Donald was predeceased by his parents Donald H. Taylor, Sr. and LeslieTaylor.

Visitation at the Leonardis Memorial Home, Inc., 210 Ridgedale Ave, Florham Park on Saturday from 1 –4 pm with a prayer service at 3:30 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Donald’s name to: St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, see donation box below....

To plant a beautiful memorial tree in memory of Donald H. Taylor, Jr., please visit our Tree Store.