All Around Pennsauken

By Frank Sinatra, AAP Editor

Rick Taylor, longtime Pennsauken resident, public servant, and educator, died last month after battling a prolonged illness. He was 73.

Upon news of his passing, many of his former colleagues and friends took an opportunity to share what Taylor meant to them.

“Rick was a pillar of Pennsauken for many decades, from his impact as an educator to his efforts in public service,” said Mayor Tim Killion. “He was a fair, caring person who was thoroughly involved in his community. He truly touched people’s lives.”

“Rick was a staple in this town. He was a leader on so many levels,” added Deputy Mayor Marco DiBattista. “I joked that I went from getting detentions from Rick to serving on Committee with him, but it was a true honor. We’re all going to miss him very much.”

“The most important lesson I learned from Rick is to walk humbly, speak honestly, and live faithfully,” reflected Township Committeewoman Betsy McBride. “He told me two things recently as his health declined that I will always treasure. He said he never questioned that I was ‘for the people’ and he encouraged me to keep doing what I do. He also told me when I wanted to focus on the environment in 2012, he questioned it. He asked, ‘What’s all this green stuff?’ But he then said, ‘it turned out to be a good idea.’ I will truly miss the man, his laugh, his wisdom, his faith, and his counsel.”

“When I first joined Committee, he welcomed me to the team with open arms. I am so sad that he left us so soon. We will miss him and may he rest in peace,” added Township Committeewoman Jessica Rafeh. “He will always be remembered and never be forgotten. My condolences to his beautiful wife, Bernice, and the entire Taylor family.”

“Pennsauken Township has lost an iconic political dignitary with the passing of Rick Taylor,” said Al Dyer, Township Committee member.” Rick was everyone’s ‘go to guy.’ My deepest condolences go out to Bernice and the family. Thanks for sharing Rick with the great Township of Pennsauken. He will truly be missed.”

“I was honored and proud that Rick called me, ‘little brother.’ That meant so much to me,” added Jack Killion, who worked with Taylor at the Pennsauken School District and served with him on Township Committee through their retirements in 2019. “Whether you were a janitor or a member of Congress, he just loved, accepted, and embraced everybody with his good nature and his humor.

“If it meant doing the right thing, Rick would support it, even if it wasn’t popular. He’d back you, no matter what.”

“Rick Taylor was a special man. He lived for and loved his family, church, and community,” continued Pennsauken Director of Public Safety Bill Orth, who served with Rick on Township Committee for many years. “He was a significant personality who made everyone around him feel special and I was blessed to have him as a friend.”

“What can you say about him that hasn’t already been said? The man was just a quality human being,” said John Kneib, former Committee member and past Township administrator. “Rick was one of a kind.”

“He was quite a force on Township Committee. He was larger than life,” added Geri Tabako, Pennsauken’s first woman mayor and former Committeewoman. “Rick brought with him his whole experience of working in our schools. He was always so willing to help families in our town.

“He also really enjoyed doing weddings. One year, he did almost 100 of them. Rick was such a striking image in that black robe.”  

“Camden County lost a great public servant and community leader with the passing of Rick Taylor, as a tireless advocate for children, youth, and families. He had a smile that could light up a room and a keen intellect that was used to improve and enhance the Township over the last four decades,” said Camden County Freeholder Director Louis Cappelli, Jr., on behalf the entire Freeholder Board. “It is without question, Pennsauken and Camden County were better places because of Rick’s contributions and his deep commitment to his community. Rick taught us all what it truly meant to serve our fellow citizens and give something back to our community.”

“My heart is heavy today over the passing of my high school principal and dear friend Rick Taylor. Rick was more than an accomplished educator, football coach, administrator and mayor – he was a tireless advocate for our children, families and those less fortunate,” said U.S. Congressman Donald Norcross. “His passing is a great loss to Pennsauken and our entire community, as well as a deeply personal loss for those who were privileged to call him a friend and mentor. I extend my sincere condolences to his wife Bernice and their family and loved ones.”

Born on May 1, 1946 in Wilmington, Del., Rick first moved to Pennsauken in 1969 after graduating college, taking a position as an English teacher at Pennsauken High School. In his 42 years working in the Pennsauken School District, Mr. Taylor was an assistant principal at the high school, principal at two of Pennsauken’s elementary schools, and director of personnel. He also served as an assistant football coach and head golf coach at Pennsauken High School. In 2017, the Pennsauken School District announced plans to name a state-of-the-art field house, to be built at the high school later this year, in Rick Taylor’s honor.

“Discussing Mr. Taylor with his former students, he was best known for his oversized personality and his fairness. He would always listen to your side of the story, even if he was upset with your actions,” said Dr. Ronnie Tarchichi, superintendent, Pennsauken School District, in a letter to the school community. “He referred to his students as ‘doctor,’ which might have been his amazing way of letting them know that they could accomplish anything.”

For well over two decades, Rick Taylor had been known as a dutiful public servant. First joining Pennsauken Township Committee in 1994, Mr. Taylor had served as the town’s mayor nine times in that span.

“I really had never thought about serving as an elected official,” said Taylor in a 2010 interview. “But when I thought about all the times I talked about the need to give back, I knew that accepting that challenge was simply the right thing for me to do.”

With Taylor’s health in decline in the past few years, attending Committee meetings and Township events had proved challenging. But Rick showed considerable strength to not only be present as much as possible, but also be truly engaged. His intellect and spirit never wavered.  

In addition to his commitment to the community, Mr. Taylor was a man with a deep and abiding faith. A devout Roman Catholic, Rick was extremely active at Saint Stephen’s Church, where he and his family had been members since 1997. During that time, Rick had served as a lector, as well as on the finance committee, among other parish initiatives. He also was on the board of the Diocese of Camden’s Office of Black Catholic Ministries.

Rick also served as commissioner of the Delaware River Port Authority; on the Board of Governors for the Brooks-Irvine Football Club; and as a member of the Homestead Youth Association. In addition, he was the recipient of many accolades over the years, including Camden County’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Freedom Medal in 2018 and the Individual ACTION award by the Diocese of Camden’s Catholic Charities in 2016.

“I just hope what I’ve done educationally and as an elected official has made people’s lives better, having an opportunity to help people along the way,” said Taylor during a video interview in 2018. “There’s something very rewarding, being able to help people. All of us have had people who have helped us get to where we are. We have an obligation to help people to climb. No one gets to the top by themselves.”

Approximately 1,000 people attended Rick’s viewing at Falco/Caruso & Leonard Funeral Home in Pennsauken, with family, friends, and dignitaries offering their sympathy and respect. At his funeral at Saint Stephen’s, Fr. Daniel Rocco, pastor, spoke of Rick’s family and friends coming together to help him with his illness.

“I witnessed the care for a husband, a father, and a brother for three and half years. It was special because it was Christ-centered. It was special because it drank from the well of love.

“All this took place and offered myself and ultimately each and every one of you, an opportunity to be thankful for the witness that Rick gave to each and every one of us.”  

Rick’s son, Scott, also took an opportunity to share thoughts about his father, with some of the same humor his dad was known for.

“Anyone who knew my Dad knew that he loved Christ, he loved his family, his church family, his friends and community, and that he really loved golf. In fact, he was probably the first one on the tee box with Jesus. Knowing my father, he was asking Jesus to pick up the pace so that they could get 36 holes in before lunch.

“My dad spent over 40 years as an educator, so it was in his blood to teach. And he didn’t just teach lessons at school, he taught them at home. Growing up, he would always say, ‘Whatever you choose to do in life, don’t be happy with being good at it. Strive to be great at it.’ It was that attitude that helped him excel in education, local politics, as a husband and father, and as a servant of the community.” 

Mr. Taylor is survived by his loving wife of over 50 years, Bernice; children Holly and Scott; daughter-in-law, Donyelle; grandchildren, Alexandra, Jeremy, and Amelia; sister Toni Branson (Bruce); nieces Jamie Hatcher (Jesse) and Brittany Benson; a great nephew Branson, who he affectionately named “Bam Bam;” and a host of nieces, nephews and cousins.

  The entire Pennsauken community is thankful for the decades of service and sacrifice that Rick Taylor gave to us. We will keep the spirit of his memory and what he stood for in our hearts, for we will not see his like again.