Wakefield Taylor -- scion of pioneers, longtime state jurist
Erin Hallissy, Chronicle Staff Writer | on April 12, 2005
COPY PICTURE OF WAKEFIELD TAYLOR. FOR OBIT. Mark Costantini/San Francisco Chronicle less
Wakefield Taylor, a descendant of Gold Rush pioneers who was a longtime California Court of Appeal justice, died April 6 in his Martinez home at the age of 93.
Mr. Taylor, a 1937 graduate of UC Berkeley's Boalt Hall School of Law who served as a Superior Court judge before being named to the appellate court in 1963, also was involved in numerous civic and professional organizations, including serving as president of the Commonwealth Club.
He once said, however, that his greatest job was serving as student body president at UC Berkeley in 1933-34, when he and the Stanford student body president agreed that the Axe would be the perpetual trophy for the Big Game winner.
"He loved Cal," said his daughter, Marylee Carmel Taylor. Mr. Taylor's son, Tom Taylor, recalled that his father would take his four children on frequent "pilgrimages" to the Berkeley campus, paving the way for their enrollments at the university.
"We just didn't know any other place existed," Tom Taylor said. "He had laid the groundwork for our decision."
Mr. Taylor was a Phi Beta Kappa and the class valedictorian in 1934. At Boalt Hall, he was a Charles Mills Gayley Fellow and on the staff of the California Law Review.
Mr. Taylor, who continued attending Cal football games into his 80s, was the first president of the UC Berkeley Foundation in 1972-73, a charter member of the Berkeley Fellows and in 1981 was awarded the Berkeley Citation, an honor given to distinguished alumni. In 1982, he was named Boalt Hall's Alumnus of the Year.
Mr. Taylor, who was born in Ukiah (Mendocino County), was a Navy lieutenant during World War II. As a young lawyer, he was in private practice in San Francisco and in Contra Costa County as a partner of the late Congressman John F. Baldwin. He later was Antioch's city attorney and a deputy district attorney in Contra Costa County; he was appointed to the Superior Court by Gov. Earl Warren in 1951.
In 1963, Mr. Taylor was elevated to the California Court of Appeal in San Francisco by Gov. Pat Brown. In 1970, Gov. Ronald Reagan appointed him presiding justice.
Mr. Taylor, who retired in 1982, also served many times on assignment to the state Supreme Court. He was the founding chairman of the Center for Judicial Education and Research, and served on the State Judicial Council.
He also was active in community organizations, including the John Muir Association, the Martinez Historical Society, the Kiwanis Club, the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Boys Club and the Mt. Diablo Council of Boy Scouts of America.
He also loved to walk, which helped him stay healthy, and would often strike up conversations with people he met, his children said.
"He walked all over San Francisco," when he worked at the Court of Appeal," Marylee Taylor said. "When retired he walked from the family home to the (Martinez) waterfront daily, rain or shine. If it was hot, he'd get up at 6 a.m. to do it."
Despite his busy career, Mr. Taylor was "an active, fun father" who led his children when they were young on "elephant hunts" in eucalyptus groves, taught them to swim and play tennis and took them for long walks to Port Costa along the railroad tracks.
Mr. Taylor is survived by his wife of 64 years, Carmel, and their four children, Marylee Taylor of University Park, Pa., Tom Taylor of Honeoye, N.Y., Douglas Taylor of Winchester, Mass., and Catherine Taylor-Skarica of Pacifica, and four grandchildren.
Contributions in Mr. Taylor's memory may be made to the California Alumni Association Scholarship Fund, c/o Deby Johns, 1 Alumni House, Berkeley, CA 94720. Donations may also be sent to the First Congregational Church, 1229 Court St., Martinez, CA 94553.
A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. May 21 at the First Congregational Church in Martinez. A reception will follow at the Masonic Hall, 700 Masonic St., Martinez.Martinez
Contra Costa County
California
USA
Erin Hallissy, Chronicle Staff Writer | on April 12, 2005
COPY PICTURE OF WAKEFIELD TAYLOR. FOR OBIT. Mark Costantini/San Francisco Chronicle less
Wakefield Taylor, a descendant of Gold Rush pioneers who was a longtime California Court of Appeal justice, died April 6 in his Martinez home at the age of 93.
Mr. Taylor, a 1937 graduate of UC Berkeley's Boalt Hall School of Law who served as a Superior Court judge before being named to the appellate court in 1963, also was involved in numerous civic and professional organizations, including serving as president of the Commonwealth Club.
He once said, however, that his greatest job was serving as student body president at UC Berkeley in 1933-34, when he and the Stanford student body president agreed that the Axe would be the perpetual trophy for the Big Game winner.
"He loved Cal," said his daughter, Marylee Carmel Taylor. Mr. Taylor's son, Tom Taylor, recalled that his father would take his four children on frequent "pilgrimages" to the Berkeley campus, paving the way for their enrollments at the university.
"We just didn't know any other place existed," Tom Taylor said. "He had laid the groundwork for our decision."
Mr. Taylor was a Phi Beta Kappa and the class valedictorian in 1934. At Boalt Hall, he was a Charles Mills Gayley Fellow and on the staff of the California Law Review.
Mr. Taylor, who continued attending Cal football games into his 80s, was the first president of the UC Berkeley Foundation in 1972-73, a charter member of the Berkeley Fellows and in 1981 was awarded the Berkeley Citation, an honor given to distinguished alumni. In 1982, he was named Boalt Hall's Alumnus of the Year.
Mr. Taylor, who was born in Ukiah (Mendocino County), was a Navy lieutenant during World War II. As a young lawyer, he was in private practice in San Francisco and in Contra Costa County as a partner of the late Congressman John F. Baldwin. He later was Antioch's city attorney and a deputy district attorney in Contra Costa County; he was appointed to the Superior Court by Gov. Earl Warren in 1951.
In 1963, Mr. Taylor was elevated to the California Court of Appeal in San Francisco by Gov. Pat Brown. In 1970, Gov. Ronald Reagan appointed him presiding justice.
Mr. Taylor, who retired in 1982, also served many times on assignment to the state Supreme Court. He was the founding chairman of the Center for Judicial Education and Research, and served on the State Judicial Council.
He also was active in community organizations, including the John Muir Association, the Martinez Historical Society, the Kiwanis Club, the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Boys Club and the Mt. Diablo Council of Boy Scouts of America.
He also loved to walk, which helped him stay healthy, and would often strike up conversations with people he met, his children said.
"He walked all over San Francisco," when he worked at the Court of Appeal," Marylee Taylor said. "When retired he walked from the family home to the (Martinez) waterfront daily, rain or shine. If it was hot, he'd get up at 6 a.m. to do it."
Despite his busy career, Mr. Taylor was "an active, fun father" who led his children when they were young on "elephant hunts" in eucalyptus groves, taught them to swim and play tennis and took them for long walks to Port Costa along the railroad tracks.
Mr. Taylor is survived by his wife of 64 years, Carmel, and their four children, Marylee Taylor of University Park, Pa., Tom Taylor of Honeoye, N.Y., Douglas Taylor of Winchester, Mass., and Catherine Taylor-Skarica of Pacifica, and four grandchildren.
Contributions in Mr. Taylor's memory may be made to the California Alumni Association Scholarship Fund, c/o Deby Johns, 1 Alumni House, Berkeley, CA 94720. Donations may also be sent to the First Congregational Church, 1229 Court St., Martinez, CA 94553.
A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. May 21 at the First Congregational Church in Martinez. A reception will follow at the Masonic Hall, 700 Masonic St., Martinez.Martinez
Contra Costa County
California
USA
Wakefield Taylor -- scion of pioneers, longtime state jurist
Erin Hallissy, Chronicle Staff Writer | on April 12, 2005
COPY PICTURE OF WAKEFIELD TAYLOR. FOR OBIT. Mark Costantini/San Francisco Chronicle less
Wakefield Taylor, a descendant of Gold Rush pioneers who was a longtime California Court of Appeal justice, died April 6 in his Martinez home at the age of 93.
Mr. Taylor, a 1937 graduate of UC Berkeley's Boalt Hall School of Law who served as a Superior Court judge before being named to the appellate court in 1963, also was involved in numerous civic and professional organizations, including serving as president of the Commonwealth Club.
He once said, however, that his greatest job was serving as student body president at UC Berkeley in 1933-34, when he and the Stanford student body president agreed that the Axe would be the perpetual trophy for the Big Game winner.
"He loved Cal," said his daughter, Marylee Carmel Taylor. Mr. Taylor's son, Tom Taylor, recalled that his father would take his four children on frequent "pilgrimages" to the Berkeley campus, paving the way for their enrollments at the university.
"We just didn't know any other place existed," Tom Taylor said. "He had laid the groundwork for our decision."
Mr. Taylor was a Phi Beta Kappa and the class valedictorian in 1934. At Boalt Hall, he was a Charles Mills Gayley Fellow and on the staff of the California Law Review.
Mr. Taylor, who continued attending Cal football games into his 80s, was the first president of the UC Berkeley Foundation in 1972-73, a charter member of the Berkeley Fellows and in 1981 was awarded the Berkeley Citation, an honor given to distinguished alumni. In 1982, he was named Boalt Hall's Alumnus of the Year.
Mr. Taylor, who was born in Ukiah (Mendocino County), was a Navy lieutenant during World War II. As a young lawyer, he was in private practice in San Francisco and in Contra Costa County as a partner of the late Congressman John F. Baldwin. He later was Antioch's city attorney and a deputy district attorney in Contra Costa County; he was appointed to the Superior Court by Gov. Earl Warren in 1951.
In 1963, Mr. Taylor was elevated to the California Court of Appeal in San Francisco by Gov. Pat Brown. In 1970, Gov. Ronald Reagan appointed him presiding justice.
Mr. Taylor, who retired in 1982, also served many times on assignment to the state Supreme Court. He was the founding chairman of the Center for Judicial Education and Research, and served on the State Judicial Council.
He also was active in community organizations, including the John Muir Association, the Martinez Historical Society, the Kiwanis Club, the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Boys Club and the Mt. Diablo Council of Boy Scouts of America.
He also loved to walk, which helped him stay healthy, and would often strike up conversations with people he met, his children said.
"He walked all over San Francisco," when he worked at the Court of Appeal," Marylee Taylor said. "When retired he walked from the family home to the (Martinez) waterfront daily, rain or shine. If it was hot, he'd get up at 6 a.m. to do it."
Despite his busy career, Mr. Taylor was "an active, fun father" who led his children when they were young on "elephant hunts" in eucalyptus groves, taught them to swim and play tennis and took them for long walks to Port Costa along the railroad tracks.
Mr. Taylor is survived by his wife of 64 years, Carmel, and their four children, Marylee Taylor of University Park, Pa., Tom Taylor of Honeoye, N.Y., Douglas Taylor of Winchester, Mass., and Catherine Taylor-Skarica of Pacifica, and four grandchildren.
Contributions in Mr. Taylor's memory may be made to the California Alumni Association Scholarship Fund, c/o Deby Johns, 1 Alumni House, Berkeley, CA 94720. Donations may also be sent to the First Congregational Church, 1229 Court St., Martinez, CA 94553.
A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. May 21 at the First Congregational Church in Martinez. A reception will follow at the Masonic Hall, 700 Masonic St., Martinez.Martinez
Contra Costa County
California
USA
Erin Hallissy, Chronicle Staff Writer | on April 12, 2005
COPY PICTURE OF WAKEFIELD TAYLOR. FOR OBIT. Mark Costantini/San Francisco Chronicle less
Wakefield Taylor, a descendant of Gold Rush pioneers who was a longtime California Court of Appeal justice, died April 6 in his Martinez home at the age of 93.
Mr. Taylor, a 1937 graduate of UC Berkeley's Boalt Hall School of Law who served as a Superior Court judge before being named to the appellate court in 1963, also was involved in numerous civic and professional organizations, including serving as president of the Commonwealth Club.
He once said, however, that his greatest job was serving as student body president at UC Berkeley in 1933-34, when he and the Stanford student body president agreed that the Axe would be the perpetual trophy for the Big Game winner.
"He loved Cal," said his daughter, Marylee Carmel Taylor. Mr. Taylor's son, Tom Taylor, recalled that his father would take his four children on frequent "pilgrimages" to the Berkeley campus, paving the way for their enrollments at the university.
"We just didn't know any other place existed," Tom Taylor said. "He had laid the groundwork for our decision."
Mr. Taylor was a Phi Beta Kappa and the class valedictorian in 1934. At Boalt Hall, he was a Charles Mills Gayley Fellow and on the staff of the California Law Review.
Mr. Taylor, who continued attending Cal football games into his 80s, was the first president of the UC Berkeley Foundation in 1972-73, a charter member of the Berkeley Fellows and in 1981 was awarded the Berkeley Citation, an honor given to distinguished alumni. In 1982, he was named Boalt Hall's Alumnus of the Year.
Mr. Taylor, who was born in Ukiah (Mendocino County), was a Navy lieutenant during World War II. As a young lawyer, he was in private practice in San Francisco and in Contra Costa County as a partner of the late Congressman John F. Baldwin. He later was Antioch's city attorney and a deputy district attorney in Contra Costa County; he was appointed to the Superior Court by Gov. Earl Warren in 1951.
In 1963, Mr. Taylor was elevated to the California Court of Appeal in San Francisco by Gov. Pat Brown. In 1970, Gov. Ronald Reagan appointed him presiding justice.
Mr. Taylor, who retired in 1982, also served many times on assignment to the state Supreme Court. He was the founding chairman of the Center for Judicial Education and Research, and served on the State Judicial Council.
He also was active in community organizations, including the John Muir Association, the Martinez Historical Society, the Kiwanis Club, the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Boys Club and the Mt. Diablo Council of Boy Scouts of America.
He also loved to walk, which helped him stay healthy, and would often strike up conversations with people he met, his children said.
"He walked all over San Francisco," when he worked at the Court of Appeal," Marylee Taylor said. "When retired he walked from the family home to the (Martinez) waterfront daily, rain or shine. If it was hot, he'd get up at 6 a.m. to do it."
Despite his busy career, Mr. Taylor was "an active, fun father" who led his children when they were young on "elephant hunts" in eucalyptus groves, taught them to swim and play tennis and took them for long walks to Port Costa along the railroad tracks.
Mr. Taylor is survived by his wife of 64 years, Carmel, and their four children, Marylee Taylor of University Park, Pa., Tom Taylor of Honeoye, N.Y., Douglas Taylor of Winchester, Mass., and Catherine Taylor-Skarica of Pacifica, and four grandchildren.
Contributions in Mr. Taylor's memory may be made to the California Alumni Association Scholarship Fund, c/o Deby Johns, 1 Alumni House, Berkeley, CA 94720. Donations may also be sent to the First Congregational Church, 1229 Court St., Martinez, CA 94553.
A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. May 21 at the First Congregational Church in Martinez. A reception will follow at the Masonic Hall, 700 Masonic St., Martinez.Martinez
Contra Costa County
California
USA
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