Richard Taylor

Richard Errol Taylor

9/24/1953-2/27/2026

Growing up in Chester County, Pennsylvania, Rick spent his summers working as a tender for his father’s masonry business, skills he used for years on his own masonry projects. Rick attended elementary through high school in Unionville, PA where he was known to his friends as Rich.

Prior to starting college, Rick studied for a year overseas, in the UK, at Oxford University, Pembroke College. Rick received his Bachelor’s degree in Biology at Moravian College in Bethlehem, PA, then moved to Denver to study Theater Arts, landing a national commercial for Benihana Japanese restaurants.

Rick had a deep love and knowledge of perennial plants, trees and landscape design. He worked with nurseries, landscape businesses and private clients to design both commercial properties and private gardens. His design specialty was to always have something beautiful growing throughout the year.

Rick also had a deep love of animals. He adopted, or was adopted by, a raccoon he named Ginger, who lived in their house and slept on Rick’s pillow, his many rescue cats, of which his most recent, also Ginger, remained next to Rick as he transitioned.

When Annie met Rick, their weekends were largely spent on his sailboat, where they had their first date. Sailing on his beloved Chesapeake Bay, with friends, was such a joy to him, for so many years. When he did give up his boat, he decided to donate it to the local Boy Scout troop in Maryland, the camp where he spent so many summers as a boy.

Rick was a lifelong Philadelphia Eagles fan, and watching them win both the 2018 and 2025 Super Bowls was a wonderful gift to him. Each season he made sure that every single game, regardless of the location, was watched and recorded to enjoy again and again.

Rick is survived by his wife of 31 years, Annie Ravdin Taylor, his brother Bill Taylor, sister-in-law, Sonya Taylor, niece Heather Taylor of Oxford, PA, and his nephew Timothy Taylor of Jeannette, PA. Rick’s son, Max Taylor, pre-deceased him, in 2022. His sister-in-law Susan Ravdin, and her husband Wilfrid de Freitas, of Montreal, his brother-in-law, Glenn Ravdin, of South Hero, Vermont, who pre-deceased him in 2019, his sister-in-law Kimberly Ravdin, her partner Peter Gibbs, and Kim’s children, Marel Ravdin, Dylan Ravdin, his wife Briana and their son James, of New York.

Annie had lifelong deep ties to Vermont, so nearing their retirement dates, she asked Rick to find them a house near Lake Champlain, which he did and they moved up with their 4 cats to West Swanton, Vermont, in 2017.

Rick was so thankful to his dear friends and family for their love and support throughout his life and particularly during his illness.

A memorial service will be planned for a future date, details pending; the burial of his ashes will be private.

In lieu of flowers, please give a donation, in Rick’s honor, to the Franklin County Animal Rescue, https://www.franklincountyanimalrescue.org/, or to your preferred local animal shelter to help the many pets who give so much more than they often receive and add such great joy to all of our lives ~