Gregory Richard Taylor

The family of Dr. Gregory Richard Taylor, known to all as "Taylor", is sorry to announce that he passed away unexpectedly at his home on June 3, 2015. He was 61 years old.

Taylor was born March 23, 1954 in San Diego, California and raised in Hungry Horse. Taylor earned a doctorate degree in geophysics in 1987 and a master's degree in astronomy in 1981 from the University of Washington and a bachelor's degree in physics in 1976 from Montana State University. In the 1980s he worked in the "oil patch" as a senior oil field engineer in the E.I.C. Hostile Environment Logging Depot, Rocky Mountains for Schlumberger.

He also spent a year in Colorado as a Scientist I in the Climate Modeling Section, Climate and Global Dynamics Division at the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder. Taylor was a popular professor in the Geological and Environmental Sciences Department at CSU Chico for 28 years, teaching astronomy, pollution and environmental science, and other geophysical classes.

Taylor was well known in northern California as an outstanding bodhran (Irish drum) player and founding member of the "Pub Scouts," helping to anchor the sessions at Duffy's for many years. Every Sunday he played music with friends of all skill levels, hosting these sessions with his wife Izzy at either their home in Chico or at the Holbrooke Hotel in Grass Valley. He helped establish the unique Session Stage at the Celtic Festival in Grass Valley. He encouraged everyone to "give us a tune or a song," making all welcome to join in the music-making. His intelligence, sense of humor, deep integrity, work ethic and loyal friendship will be deeply missed by his many friends around the world.

Taylor is survived by his parents Richard and Angela Taylor; his little sisters Debra, Nancy, Kim and Jenny; his two children and their spouses Chris (Amy Danowitz) and Patricia (Kyle Fernish); his two step-children Jake and Yara Pasner; many nieces and nephews; his wife Elizabeth "Izzy" Martin and her extended family. In lieu of flowers please make a contribution in Taylor's name to your favorite charity or to the Mendocino Woodlands Camp Association, where Taylor spent many years at Lark Camp hosting a nightly open session.