Richard Taylor was born in Gardner, Massachusetts during the year prohibition was repealed. From an early age, he had an avid interest in music, and as a teenager, was fortunate to study with noted Worcester and NYC organist, T. Charles Lee. He was awarded a scholarship to the New England Conservatory of Music, studying organ with George Faxon. During this time, he also became Dean of the Worcester Chapter of the American Guild of Organists, and took positions at Symphony Hall in Boston, and the former Aeolian-Skinner Organ Company, also of Boston. As a college student, he was grateful to be acquainted with many notable musicians of the time, among them- organists E. Power Biggs, Virgil Fox, Joseph Whiteford and Tony Bufano from Aeolian-Skinner, and his contemporaries Robert Hebble and his life-long friend, Donald Butt of New York City. Upon graduating from the Conservatory, he enlisted in the US Army, and was sent to Fort Dix, New Jersey for basic training. Upon arrival there, he was immediately sent to the chapel, where he met another young organist, Fred Swann; their friendship would last a lifetime. Richard was appointed Chaplain's Assistant, among his duties, serving as chapel organist. He was sent to Korea and remained there for the duration of his four years of military service. Returning to civilian life, he resumed working full-time at Aeolian-Skinner and various Boston churches, among them The Church of the Covenant, where he took great pride in changing the course of events that would have removed the wonderful Welte Pipe Organ in favor of an instrument proposed by a mid-west builder.

As time moved along, he found his way often to New York City, and between spending time with Virgil Fox and Bobby Hebble at Riverside, he became acquainted with Alec Wyton at The Cathedral of St. John the Divine. Alec subsequently employed him as an occasional service player there. In the late 1960's, he moved to Connecticut and assumed a position at Austin Organs, Inc. in Hartford.

In 1969, he was wed to Karen (Stone) Taylor, and together they raised two children, Keith and Laurie. In the 1970's and 80's, Richard worked for various firms in purchasing, notably Colt's Patent Firearms Manufacturing Company, where he was Director of Military Purchasing, a position of which he was most proud. After his time there, he found his way back into organ building, securing employment as a pipe voicer for the former Berkshire Organ Company in West Springfield, Massachusetts.

Following the demise of Berkshire in 1989, he founded American Classic Organ Co., Ltd. With Michael Fazio. Together, they built and maintained several organs across New England and New York. During these years, he served as organist for various churches in Connecticut and Massachusetts, including playing the large instrument at St. Michael's Cathedral in Springfield for festival liturgies, where Michael Fazio was Music Director. His final, and most treasured church position was in Killingworth Connecticut at St. Lawrence Catholic Church, where he remained for two decades, until failing eyesight and advancing arthritis forced him to regrettably retire during his 80th year of life; noting that this was also his 65th year serving various churches as an organist! During his tenure at St. Lawrence, he was honored to build a new pipe organ for the church, utilizing parts from the former instrument at Wesleyan University.

He loved the sea also. Having owned several boats over the years, he lived aboard a yacht in Chester Connecticut for many years. He was a true yachtsman – navigating by paper charts and a compass, long before GPS was a random idea in any sailor's brain. Safety and precision were driving factors in his ship handling. He also served a few years in the US Coast Guard Auxiliary.

During the summer of 2005, Richard learned that Austin Organs in Hartford was seeking a buyer to transition the company out of the Austin family, who had operated the firm for over a century. An arrangement was struck with Marilyn Austin and the Board of Directors, and in January 2006, Richard assumed the duties of CEO of the firm where some years prior, he was only paid $2.65 per hour!  He continued daily operation, until most recently when he stopped coming into the office every day and transferred control of the firm to Mike Fazio, his business partner of 35 years, who will continue to fill the void left by the loss of his daily presence, buoyed by the support of the wonderful staff at Austin Organs.

Richard leaves behind his daughter Laurie Glynn of Florida, Keith Taylor of Connecticut, his brothers Donald Taylor of Massachusetts, and Wayne Taylor of Maryland.

He will be missed by his many friends in the church, music and yachting communities. Everyone who knew Dick would agree: he was a wonderful, generous, kind soul who was rather proud to have been labeled a true curmudgeon!

Visitaition will be held on Friday (Aug.30th) from 10 to 11 a.m. at St. Lawrence Church, 7 Hemlock Drive, Killingworth followed by an 11 a.m. Funeral Liturgy at St. Lawrence.  Burial will be at the convenience of his family.