Donald William Taylor

Donald “Don” William Taylor, 80, of Ellicott City, MD, passed away on April 6, 2024, after quietly dealing with cancer for over 17 years. Born June 4, 1943, in Brookville, PA, he was the son of Raymond and Catherine (Cuffia) Taylor. Don is survived by his wife, Delma, his sisters June Silvestri and Mary Bodie. He is survived by thirteen nieces and nephews, twenty-two great nieces and great nephews and fourteen great great-nieces and great great-nephews. Don was predeceased by his brother Raymond Taylor, brothers-in-law John Bodie and Frank Silvestri, niece Jennifer Taylor-Aponte, nephew Larry Silvestri and great-nephews Nathan Park and Dammond Park. 

Don graduated from Redbank Valley High School in 1961. He received his Bachelor of Architecture degree from Penn State in 1966 and his Master of Architectural Engineering degree from Penn State in 1969. He married Delma Lambert on June 7, 1969.

Don held various architectural jobs in Cambridge, MA; State College, PA, and Harrisburg, PA, before moving to Columbia, MD, in 1973 to work for Ryland Homes. In 1981, he opened his own architectural business, d w taylor associates inc, in Ellicott City, MD. After closing the business in 2019, he continued to do consulting work for various clients. He was a registered architect in ten states and a member of the American Institute of Architects . 

Don was a mentor to many students that passed through his office. He was on the board of the Oakland Mills Interfaith Center for several years. He served on the Design Advisory Panel in Howard County for ten years.

Don loved cars and had an assortment over the years. He enjoyed traveling with Delma, photography, woodworking, gardening and cooking. In 2011, he attended the Customer in Residence Program at the Thos. Moser Company in Freeport, ME, and made a beautiful chair.  The chair did not have an ottoman, so he designed one to match and built it. His philosophy was that you can never have too many tools.   

A memorial service will be held on Friday, April 19, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. at Columbia Baptist Fellowship, Oakland Mills Interfaith Center, Columbia, MD.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the International Fund for Animal Welfare, 290 Summer Street, Yarmouth Port, MA  02675 (www.ifaw.org) or Columbia Baptist Fellowship, 5885 Robert Oliver Place, Columbia, MD  21044 (www.columbiabaptistfellowship.org).

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