Andrew M Taylor

Obituary

Andrew Taylor, of Dover, Delaware, a man of immense generosity, varied technical skills and deep love for his family, passed away Sept. 27, 2024, at age 62. Known to friends and loved ones simply as “Drew,” he leaves behind an extraordinary professional and personal legacy – marked by tireless devotion as a father, husband, provider, brother, and uncle.

Born to Bill and Thelma Taylor, Drew’s early and insatiable thirst for knowledge led him to pursue a wide range of interests throughout his life – from classical music, automotives and information technology to aeronautics, photography and space flight.

An accomplished trombonist, Drew earned bachelor's and master's degrees in musical performance and later performed for the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and the Dayton (Ohio) Philharmonic Orchestra, among others.

He would later earn several official technology certifications, and as a licensed pilot he amassed more than 2,000 flight hours. Drew extended his love of flight by working with the Air Mobility Command Museum Foundation, where he eventually joined the organization’s Board of Directors. His talents as a pilot and photographer were combined when he served as an aerial surveyor for Delaware’s Department of Natural Resources.

A lifelong automotive enthusiast, he collected, drove, and even raced cars, while also working as a mechanic on many of his own vehicles. Whether on the job or behind the wheel, Drew was a gifted educator and contributor who approached everything with curiosity, precision, enthusiasm, encyclopedic knowledge and an eagerness to teach others. It was no surprise that he turned his passion for cars into service when he joined the Board of Directors at the Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum in Philadelphia.

He was perhaps most proud of his longstanding role as a tester of spacesuits for ILC Dover, the Delaware firm that crafts astronaut gear for NASA. Drew was Senior IT Officer at the Delaware Solid Waste Authority, where he led with dedication and innovation.

Drew is survived by his beloved wife, Luann (Litle) Taylor, and their three sons, Austin, Andrew (Emma,) and Aaron. Drew is also survived by his parents, Bill and Thelma Taylor, his brother, Darryl (Monica) Taylor, and his sister, Donna (Sunil) Mehta, along with extended family, including in-law siblings and nieces and nephews, all of whom cherished him dearly.

A celebration of Drew’s life is being planned.

***If you are considering self-harm or suicide, please dial 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Hotline.

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