John Taylor, 71, director of the Delaware Public Policy Institute and senior vice president of the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce, died Saturday after a long battle with cancer.
As institute director, since 2005, Taylor was instrumental in efforts to reform the public education system.
Taylor joined the institute, a part of the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce, after a 37-year career with the News Journal. The University of Toronto graduate, who grew up in Wilmington, was best known for editing the newspaper’s editorial page.
Chamber President and long-time friend, Rich Heffron said Taylor “made the institute what it is today.” While best known for his work in education, Heffron noted that Taylor tackled a host of issues that included water and transportation. According to Heffron, Taylor insisted on a thorough look at issues, at times hiring experts to do research, but always writing up the findings,” Heffron remembered.
Heffron, who spent much of his career as chief lobbyist and interim president at various times, said he would talk with Taylor every day both were in the office. The topics often involved weighty issues, such as education and the City of Wilmington, but also included subjects like family and restaurants. A voracious reader, Taylor would suggest or even drop a book on Heffron’s desk.
Heffron said he marveled at Taylor’s courage, candor and upbeat spirit during his battle with the disease.
“I will miss him,” Heffron said.
“John was a tenacious journalist who understood and loved Delaware, and he wrote about it with heart and verve,” News Journal Editor David Ledford stated in a story in the publication. “He worked hard to understand the ideas that stakeholders statewide held to be true, and found a way to make sure those voices were heard.”
Gov. Jack Markell offered the following:
“Whether during his long and prolific career as a newspaper man or as a leading public policy thinker, John displayed a tremendous passion for Delaware and making our state a better place. His work made his readers, including our public officials, smarter and more thoughtful about the most important issues facing our state. John leaves behind a remarkable legacy, starting with his beautiful family. John was clearly deserving of our state’s highest honor and he will be sorely missed.”
“He was a fierce proponent of improving education and fairness for children throughout Delaware, and became a founding member of the Vision Coalition—then called Vision 2015,” Rodel Foundation President Paul Herdman wrote in the organization’s blog. “He was with many other Delaware education leaders at the table in 2004 when the group first began putting thoughts and ideas toward Vision 2015, which would go on to become one of the most impactful and enduring public-private partnerships in the country.”
“Thanks to people like John, more Delaware children are getting strong early childhood educations, and more are getting into college than ever before,” Herdman wrote
Taylor served on a number of other boards, including the Delaware Association for Non Profit Advancement. “Those who knew John know that he was passionate about making Delaware a better place. Through his work and his life, he positively impacted the lives of so many,” a statement from the association noted. A memorial service will be held at the Cab Calloway School of the Arts, 100 N. DuPont Road, Wilmington on Sunday, April 19 at 10:30 a.m.
