Obituary of Robert B. Taylor

Dr. Robert B. Taylor, 85, Professor Emeritus at Glassboro State/Rowan University, died October 3, 2009, from Parkinson's disease. He was born August 23, 1924, in Binghamton, NY, graduating in 1942. He won a scholarship in trumpet from Oberlin Conservatory, Oberlin, OH. When he turned 18, he joined the US Navy and served from 1943-49. He was a Musician 2nd Class, and was on many ships in the Atlantic and Pacific Theatres playing in the band. His last 3 years in the Navy, he taught at the Navy School of Music in Anacostia, VA. After his discharge, he entered the Juilliard School of Music in New York City, as a French Horn major and graduated in May 1952. He began his Master's degree in Music Education at Columbia University Teachers College. In September 1953, he began teaching Brass at Texas Tech College, (now Texas Tech Univ.) in Lubbock, TX. In the summers, he began working on his Doctorate. Bob had always wanted to teach, but also wanted the experience of playing in a professional orchestra, so he moved to Buffalo, NY to play in the Buffalo Philharmonic for one year. He moved back to Oberlin where he taught French Horn and Theory, and was a member of the Oberlin Woodwind Quartet for three years. In January 1964, he moved to Glassboro with his family to teach at Glassboro State College. He taught there for 27 years, retiring in 1991. He completed his doctoral work at Columbia in 1968, and became a full professor at that time. He taught French Horn, Music Acoustics, and played in both the Brass and Woodwind quintets. He conducted the Glassboro College Community Orchestra for 21 years and also conducted the All South Jersey Orchestra two times. He was first horn in the Bridgeton Orchestra, now the Bay Atlantic Philharmonic, and for two years played various Broadway shows at the Schubert Theater in Philadelphia. Along with Dr. Larry Stewart, he was involved in starting the South Jersey Youth Orchestra with Mrs. Byrnina Socolofsky as director. Bob loved his family and they went on camping trips across the country three times. He enjoyed sailing and was a Mister Fix-it, using a glue gun and duct tape to fix many things. His music was not only his vocation, but his avocation. Survived by his wife of 57 years, Helen (nee Knauf), daughters Deborah Cervino (Michael), Diane Taylor with little Justin McHugh, Denise Linderman (Charles) and son David (Lori McKeever), 5 grandchildren, Adrienne Bailey, Justin Newell, Kristen and Kyle Linderman, and Benjamin Taylor, 3 great grandchildren, Gabrielle, Nicholas, and Ryan. Survived by his brother William (Adelaide) and sister Helen Crago(Richard), and many nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews. Friends may call on Wednesday after 7 pm in the KELLEY FUNERAL HOME, 125 Pitman Ave., Pitman, NJ. and Thursday 9:45 to 10:45 am. in the 1st Presbyterian Church of Woodbury Hts., 335 Elm Ave. Funeral service at 11 am. Those desiring may make contributions to Lighthouse Hospice, 1040 N. Kings Hwy, Suite 100, Cherry Hill, NJ 08034, and the 1st Presbyterian Church of Clayton, 205 N. Delsea Dr., Clayton, NJ 08318. Memorials may be shared at www.kelleyfhpitman.com.