It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Scott Bevan Taylor, of Sorrento, Fla., who left us on the morning of 14 September 2023. A native of Darien Connecticut, Scott is a graduate of The Citadel, Charleston, SC. He served in the US Navy during the Vietnam War. Scott then started his banking career at the First National Bank of South Carolina in 1970, then Chase Manhattan Bank, NA in New York. As Vice President of the Special Projects Division, he was responsible for handling large problem relationships at the bank including both Lockheed Aircraft and Chrysler Corporation’s government guarantee loan programs during the 1970’s. Scott also was the Director for Corporate Development of the Berol Corporation in Danbury, Connecticut.
In 1981 Scott founded The Taber Group, Inc. of Stamford, Connecticut. Taber was a computer graphic service (Scolane Productions) serving the corporate communications market in Connecticut and New York. In 1988 he founded Encore Data Services which provided computer data services for non-profits.
In 1995 Scott and his wife, the love of his life, Elaine, built a beautiful horse farm in Florida and became co-owners of Worldwide Orchids, Inc., a wholesale orchid nursery serving local brokers and chain stores east of the Mississippi. He was Chairman of the Board until his retirement in 2014.
Scott’s financial and computer expertise combined with his love of video and still photography supported many not-for-profit organizations in Central Florida that included: Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep – Providing the gift of remembrance portraits to parents experiencing the death of a baby, Audubon Florida and Florida Audubon Society Environmental Organization – Board of Directors and Treasurer, Audubon Center for Birds of Prey Environmental Organization – Chair, Advisor Committee, Aquatic Preserve Alliance of Central Florida Environmental Organization – Board Member and Treasurer, The Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra – Board Member and Treasurer, Mothers’ Milk Bank of Florida – Founder, Board Member and Treasurer, Opera Orlando, Volunteer providing photography and video production at: Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women and Babies, Arnold Palmer Hospital, Orlando Regional Medical Center, Advent Health Orlando and Nemours Children’s Health Hospital. The Nature Conservancy, Canine Companions, The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust USA, Inc. and Bach Festival of Winter Park, Florida. Of all this volunteerism, Scott always had a special place in his heart for all the “NICU” nurses that served the infant babies in the Orlando hospitals.
Scott and Elaine, his wife of 53 years, shared a passion for Africa and its people, visiting Kenya and Tanzania annually since the early 90’s, which was later expressed in exquisite photography that Scott shared with everyone including family, friends and co-workers in an annual photo calendar around the Christmas holidays with messages of what one can do to care for the environment.
Scott is survived by his wife Elaine, two sons David and Austin, cherished grandchildren Lilly, Johnny, Gemma and Patrick, sister in-law Diane (Neil Saxton), siblings Malcolm (Rita), Barbara (Burton Porter), Mark and Deborah, cousin Brendan Burns (Margaret) and several nieces and nephews who experienced his warmth, humor and sharing nature at every family gathering. Scott is dearly remembered for all his “I love you” calls to his siblings that strengthened our closeness from faraway places.
Scott had a consummate appreciation for all things living and beautiful; animals, nature, music, and most of all his beloved Elaine, family and friends. There was no limit to his compassion and strength, especially through the health adversities of the past couple of years, he was a fighter!
Celebration of life arrangements to be announced.