Ellsworth
Stuart C. Taylor Sr. passed on June 26, 2019, surrounded by his family. He was born in his grandfather’s house in Machiasport on Dec. 29, 1931, to Rudolph and Winnie Taylor. He attended schools in Machiasport, Old Town, Portland, Cape Elizabeth, Waterville and Machias, where he graduated high school in 1949.
After graduating from Machias High School in 1949, he joined the U.S. Navy and upon completion of basic training he volunteered for submarine duty and was assigned to the U.S.S. Clamagore, which was a large diesel sub. After proudly serving his country, he was discharged in 1953, and returned home to Washington County. Shortly thereafter in 1953, he enrolled at Springfield College in Massachusetts and later graduated in 1957.
He met Rosalie Dale Hooper, the love of his life, in late June of 1956, and they married soon after on Sept. 14, 1956, and began a lifetime of love together. They were a great team, raising six children.
He taught and coached for two years in Jonesport and taught one year in Machias before accepting the physical education teaching position and basketball and baseball coaching spots at Ellsworth High School in 1960. After playing and coaching basketball in all the tiny gyms in Washington County, Ellsworth was, in his words, “The Big Time.” He often told a story of walking into the gymnasium at Ellsworth High School for the first time, which was for him like walking into the Boston Garden. He coached basketball for 10 seasons with great success, winning two Eastern Maine championships and two state titles in 1964 and 1966. He had true passion for coaching and took a sincere interest in the lives of his players. They all say that he was tough, but always fair.
In 1968, he began attending classes at the University of Maine and eventually attained his master’s degree in education. In 1970, he decided that it was time to leave Ellsworth High School and he accepted the role of dean of students at Husson College, where he was also the mens’ swim coach. He enjoyed his time there but wanted to return to Ellsworth to continue his career. In 1972, he returned to the Ellsworth Junior/Senior High School as the assistant principal and athletic director. He eventually became the principal at EHS and retired after the 1986/1987 school year.
In his education career, he impacted thousands of lives of young people, helping to guide them through the perils of teenage years and young adulthood. He always gave great advice, which may not have always been what they wanted to hear, but it was always exactly what they needed to hear. He believed in treating everyone fairly, and genuinely had the best interests of his students in his heart.
After retiring from the school system, he worked at Blink Bonnie Golf Course in Sorrento for 21 seasons
as the greens keeper, 15 with his wife, Rosalie. 2008 was their last season. They loved working there together and again were a great team. Stuart would joke after hiring Rosalie that he “used to be the boss until he hired her.”
“Stu” had another true passion and that was fishing. Brook trout fishing was his favorite. In his final days, he said this about fishing: “If you go fishing to catch big trout, then you enjoy fishing only once in a while. A 15-inch brook trout is fun to catch, but I enjoy catching a 6-inch brook trout as much as I enjoy catching the big ones. Therefore, I enjoy fishing all the time.” Fishing with him was always fun. Every time he would get one on he would holler and hoot like it was the first fish he had ever caught and that enthusiasm for fishing transferred to each of his children and grandchildren.
Some of his favorite spots were Crooked River, Scotts Brook, Rawlford Brook, Mopang, The Clear Pool, Humpback brook, Burnt Camp Hill, Youngs Pond, No Name Pond, Peep Pond, the Narraguagus River and many, many more. He was preceded in death by two great fishing buddies, Joe “Bud” McCarthy and Harold “Tug” White.
As a dad, he gave his children the best experiences they could have ever hoped for. He set great examples, was a role model for the ages, taught them great lessons and made them understand that we are each responsible for our own success and failures in life. He was tough, but always fair. When parting, he always hugged and said, “I love you,” every time, no exceptions. He was a true family man who always put his family first.
Stuart was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Meme and Pepe Taylor; maternal grandfather, Dan J. Stewart; father, Rudolph “Curly” Taylor; his mother, Winnie Taylor and a son, Scott Taylor.
He is survived by his beautiful wife of nearly 63 years, Rosalie D. Taylor; sister Bonny of Ellsworth; son Stuart Jr. of Biddeford; son Gary and his wife, Kelley, of Ellsworth; daughter Lisa and partner Craig and his children, Dustin and Lindsey of Trenton; son Larry and wife Victoria of Ellsworth; son Darren and wife Camille of Otis; grandson Jacob Taylor and wife Courtney; granddaughters Erika Palmer and husband Tyler, Lauren Taylor, Courtney Jolin, Chelsey Taylor, Lindsey Taylor; step-grandchildren Stephen Grant and significant other Ashley, Michael Grant and wife Brooke, Schylar Jewell and significant other Darren Zajdel and Jaret Jewell. Great-grandchildren Marquis Jolin, Cole Stillwell, Lucas Taylor, Trey Taylor, Landon Tucker, Ryland Simpkin, Tristan and Liam Zajdel. Nephews Harold Alley Jr. of Beals, Dan Alley of Belgrade and niece Jennifer Phinney of Machias.
The funeral service will be held July 20 at 11 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church on High Street in Ellsworth, immediately followed by a Celebration of Life in the Stuart C. Taylor Gymnasium at the Ellsworth Middle School beginning at 12:30.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Scott C. Taylor Memorial Scholarship fund, Camden National Bank, P.O. Box 807, Ellsworth, ME, 04605. Make checks payable to Camden National Bank. Please put Scott C. Taylor Scholarship Fund in the memo section of checks.