Reginald S. Taylor
Popular local man, Reginald S. Taylor, passed away on Monday, September 2nd, two days before his 88th birthday. He leaves behind his sister, Jean Gardiner, nephews Graham and Nigel Gardiner, all of England. He is predeceased by his daughter, Angela. He regularly kept in touch with Jean and enjoyed her visits. She fondly remembers a trip through the Rockies on one of her last trips. He will be missed by his cousin, Bob Savage, who thought of Reg as a brother.
Born in Broadstairs, Kent, England, Reg was the middle child of parents, Jeffrey and Dorothy.
After leaving school, he became an apprentice mechanic and served in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War.
In his early twenties, Reg decided to emigrate to the US and with sponsorship from his aunt and a loan from his father; he travelled from Southampton to New York and then on to Los Angeles where he stayed and opened a garage called Ozzie and Reg with his business partner, Ozzie. The business was a great success. He soon married and had a daughter. Reg and Marilyn, his wife, then moved to Salt Spring Island and bought Scott Point Marina which they later sold to RVYC. Reg’s nephews, Graham and Nigel, remember visiting from England and enjoying summers at the Marina when they were young.
The family moved in a house on Maliview Drive which Reg had built. At this time, he was semi-retired but kept busy in the community through his involvement in ArtSpring, the Langham Court Theatre Guild in Victoria, aircraft restoration in Sidney, helping to build the clock on top of the fire station in Ganges, and volunteer work with various charities including Lady Minto Gulf Islands Hospital.
He regularly enjoyed morning coffee at the Canadian Legion where he was welcomed with his first dog, Max and more recently, Benji.
Jean and nephews, Graham and Nigel would like to thank the staff at Lady Minto Gulf Islands Hospital and Dr. Woodley for all of their kindness, care and attention during Reg’s illness. The date of a memorial service will be announced in the near future.