Jordan Deane Taylor

Jordan Deane Taylor, life-long resident of Catonsville, passed away on November 6, 2019. Born on July 16, 1988, to his loving parents, Jeffrey and Julie Taylor, Jordan spent his childhood in Catonsville, attending public schools. While at Catonsville High School, Jordan excelled academically, demonstrating a deep love for learning, especially for history. A regular honor roll student, he was also a proud 4-year member of the Concert Band and cherished his experiences on the CHS cross-country team, where he formed deep bonds with his teammates. An early and avid video game player, he learned much about world history from games and spent some of his happiest high school days in fierce marathon gaming competitions with his closest CHS buds.

After graduating from CHS in 2006, Jordan attended Lynchburg College, where he earned a BA in International Affairs and History. While there, he tutored select courses, earning praise from faculty and students for his personal teaching style. He also led freshman seminars, providing personal assistance to help students succeed. Graduating from Lynchburg in 2010 (magna cum laude), he then received a 2-year graduate assistantship at James Madison University, where he continued to teach and earned an MA in History. Returning to Catonsville, he pursued a second MA in Education from UMBC while searching for career opportunities. During these years, he worked as a camp counselor at the Catonsville Y, eventually becoming Camp Director and Director of Youth Programs. In this capacity, he worked tirelessly to develop and implement many new programs, earning accolades from management, but more importantly becoming a beloved instructor who made a positive impact on the many young lives he touched.

Throughout his short life, Jordan displayed a remarkable ability to easily connect with others in creative ways and to convey genuine concern and compassion, marked by a deep sense of responsibility and loyalty to all the people in his life. He enthusiastically shared his love of gaming and music--teaching his newlywed wife to play the guitar--and was known by family and close friends to offer expansive commentaries on public policy issues that demonstrated an intellectual maturity far beyond his years. His sharp intellect, keen sense of humor, and the passion, about people and issues, that resonated from him, will be greatly missed.

Jordan is survived by his wife and Y camp sweetheart, Twila (McAdams); his parents Jeff and Julie Taylor; his loving brother, Jared Taylor; his devoted grandfather, Allen Russel Taylor of Severn, MD; and his loving grandmother, Loretta Stark of Greenfield, IN. His grandmother Priscilla Rebecca Taylor and grandfather James Lewis Stark wait for him with open arms to join them in eternal peace.