A sad story in this newsletter on September 29 reported the death of Ryan Taylor, a long-time professional genealogist and recently an employee of the Genealogy Department of the Allen County Pubic Library in Fort Wayne, Indiana. At that time, the body had been "tentatively" identified as being that of 56-year-old Ryan Taylor. A coroner's report has now confirmed the identification and also has shed a little bit of light on the cause of death.
Taylor was on a trip to Toronto to host a new genealogy program, called "Ancestors in the Attic," for Canada's History Television channel. He was reported missing from his hotel room on Monday, September 24. The following day, a body was pulled from the Niagara River in New York, roughly 85 miles from Toronto and close to Niagara Falls. Pathologists in Buffalo, New York, used Taylor's dental records to verify the identity of the remains. The pathologists also stated that he had died by drowning.
Investigators with the Niagara County Sheriff's Department believe Taylor may have bought a Sunday bus ticket from Toronto to the Niagara Falls area. However, they have not yet announced any reason why he would buy a ticket to Niagara Falls instead of showing up on Monday for the filming of the television series he hosted.
After reading the coroner's report, police stated that they do not suspect foul play in connection with Taylor's drowning. However, the coroner's office has not yet determined whether his death was an accident or suicide. Toronto police had stated earlier that Taylor suffered from diabetes and depression, which required him to take medication daily. While not mentioned in the very brief police report, one can speculate that perhaps the coroner's office is waiting for the results of blood tests before making further announcements.
No funeral arrangements have been made. Ryan Taylor's relatives plan to have a small family ceremony soon, with a memorial service in Canada to follow. His friends and colleagues in Fort Wayne will most likely conduct another memorial service.
The following was received from Curt Witcher of the Allen County Public Library in Fort Wayne:
The memorial service in Fort Wayne has been officially set for Saturday, November 4, 2006 at 7 p.m. at Trinity Episcopal Church, 611 West Berry Street in Fort Wayne. There were a number of factors that went into choosing that date including the availability of the church where Ryan had worshiped, finding a time when library facilities throughout the system would be closed, allowing time for Ryan's friends and colleagues in areas remote from Fort Wayne to make plans to attend, and the desire not to conflict with anything the family was planning in Canada. Also among the reasons for establishing that date was Ryan's fondness for All Saints Day (November 1st) and All Saints weekend, significant times on Christian liturgical calendars. In the past, he took special pleasure in being able to read at liturgies on All Saints weekend. I believe Ryan would be pleased to be remembered at that particular time.
The Ryan Taylor Memorial English Family History Fund has been established within the Allen County Public Library Foundation's Genealogy Endowment as a way for individuals to honor Ryan's life and work in the genealogical community. The interest generated from money donated to this fund will be used to purchase materials to assist family historians with their English research at the Allen County Public Library. As this was a special focus of his own research, I again believe Ryan would be pleased. Checks can be made out to: ACPLF-Genealogy Endowment with "Ryan Taylor Memorial Fund" in the memo field.
Posted by: Dick Eastman | October 08, 2006 at 07:40 PM
Ryan's passing is a great loss to the Allen County Public Library, as well as to the genealogy community worldwide. My condolences to his family & friends. Jeanne Morse
Posted by: Jeanne | October 09, 2006 at 02:27 AM