Taylor got accepted into the Public Policy and Management program at the Heinz Graduate School at Carnegie Mellon University in the summer of 2013.ย
Taylor then enrolled in the Public Policy DC track, which meant that his first year in the program would be spent in Pittsburgh and the second in Washington, D.C.
taylor, just down the block from his new place
He had spent the previous summer in Pittsburgh working for the Obama campaign and we intended to repeat the "procedure" from 2012 (driving to Pitt with absolutely no apartment search completed prior to our departure), in order to find him his next place to live. We still had little to no internet access or cell service at our house, so any formal search was going to require multiple trips to the local library to use its Wi-Fi, which we didn't even attempt. So in mid-August, we left Vermont with a 3-night hotel reservation, a packed car, and a mission: to find his new Pittsburgh apartment!
It took us the entire three days (and I think maybe a fourth) to drive around the streets of Pittsburgh, looking for FOR RENT signs, learning our way around, reading local papers and message boards (yes, actual physical boards), and using the hotel Wi-Fi for the online ads. We drove past a few of the Craig's List scams to take a look; these were apartments where the owner had to "leave the country on short notice and was now in Africa, somewhere, for a year" and the contact person was ready and able to accept Taylor's application and wired security deposit, or the like. We reverted back to the first FOR RENT sign we had seen at 259 Atwood, near campus. It was located in the Oakland neighborhood, as can be seen in the above mural that had been painted about a block from his new place.
the group at gettysburg national military park
taylor and friends at a pirates game
^ Nichole, Sapna, Taylor & Stephanie with a surprise guest!
^ While at CMU, Taylor was a member of a dance troupe. After months of rehearsals, they were part of a dance show where the troupe danced to a Bastille song, one of Taylor's favorite groups. We got to see this amazing performance, which was not a given, as we lived 12 hours from Pittsburgh!
^ left: Caroline & Stephanie (from Heinz) having fun with Taylor!
^ taylor with his favorite ice cream!
taylor and his class, now in d.c. >
So, come the end of May 2014, Taylor and I set off on a new city's apartment-search adventure! Now that we had our "procedure" down pat, we loaded up the car and headed to D.C. Again, anchored at the local Comfort Inn for a few nights, we got our bearings in an unfamiliar city and started driving the streets near Capitol Hill, looking for the "signs." Amazingly, this technique worked again and quicker than it had in Pittsburgh. He found a basement apartment in the 5-story Lincoln Towers, that not only had an awesome view of the city from its rooftop, but that also offered Taylor his own private entrance with a side courtyard behind a quaint gate! Success! We unloaded the car, and the very next day Taylor started his summer job at the Federal Trade Commission. He could walk to both work and classes (and unlimited tourist attractions, of course)...the perfect location!
his very own courtyard>
^ taylor & friends at a 'redskins' game, before the name-change...
< taylor celebrating his 21st birthday with the heinz "older crowd"
Soon after Taylor's memorial service, his classmates sent us a lovely gift: a photo album of their memories of him. Also, these same Heinz peers donated, as a group, to the Taylor Horn Global Studies Scholarship fund. We, Taylor's family, thank you all for both of these generous gifts! The reminiscent anecdotes you included in the album were heartwarming, though not surprising to us of course. We are very grateful that you were all his good friends!
In the many scores of (at times very detailed) condolence letters we received from his global family of friends, time and time again the same themes arose: his extremely caring nature, sense of humor, knowledge of the world's 'goings-on,' maturity (even as he was often the youngest member of his varied groups), intelligence and creativity.
๐ ย ๐ ย ๐
Here are a few of the things his Heinz classmates had to say about Taylor:
...He was such a good soul. I assumed we would be friends for decades to come, intermittently catching up, because he was simply one of those people that I could see. I knew he saw me too. I have always felt lucky that our paths crossed...
...He was a great conversation partner about any topic ranging from analyzing current events and international relations, to Marvel movies, music, astronomy, maple syrup, you name it! In addition to being brilliant, he had a playfulness and sense of humor that was delightful...
...Taylor was the person you could count on to be game for anything. Whether we were ice skating at the rink on the National Mall, heading out of the city for a weekend away at the beach, or exploring a local hiking trail, you knew he would be there, and most likely be the first to arrive...
...Even though he was basically better than everyone at everything, he was kind -- never arrogant, always genuine and down-to-earth...
...He will be so missed. What a loss for the whole world...
...Taylor was a one-of-a-kind human being and I'm certain I'll never meet another person like him again. He was such a genuine, kind soul and brilliant, with a thirst for knowledge that was incredibly admirable. While many of us would come to class after a long day of work in DC with low energy and motivation, Taylor always asked insightful questions -- we could always count on him to keep the class interesting...
...Taylor, though, was more than just a really smart guy. I had a couple of opportunities to see him show off his moves on the dance floor!
...But after a few drinks, he was just as hilarious at dancing as he was good. The thing about Taylor is that he was always up for a night out, an adventure, or just a relaxing hangout with friends. He always prioritized us...
...His determination and patience to realize his dreams were inspiring, even more so when remembering how young he was and the maturity he had...
...I do remember when Taylor first came to my attention. A group of us had decided to go out for drinks. I had been living in Pittsburgh for a few years at that point, so suggested a neighborhood bar that would give folks a real taste of the city. We came into the bar, found a table, and as we sat, the waiter asked us each in turn for our IDs. When he got to Taylor, Taylor waved him off, said he was just having water. The waiter insisted, and again Taylor demurred. The waiter pressed again, said for anyone to stay they had to be of age, and so Taylor took out his license. And that's when I learned this guy I barely knew, and of whom I had only just taken notice, was 19 years old. I was gob smacked. Of course we had to leave then. But I wasn't upset, I just wanted to know who this gutsy boy genius was...
...Taylor was brilliant. And not only that, he was kind in how he used his intelligence. I don't doubt he could have done or had anything he wanted, and yet he used his mind to better the world and be a good, loving and insightful friend...
...I know we can all find ways to keep alive and amplify what he cared for and embodied!
...Taylor was a dear friend to me, an inspiration to our class, and a bright light in this world. I will miss him...
...The world lost a beautiful soul; he had so much more to give. Taylor, I love you, dear friend. I hope to make you proud...
Yes! Please, go and do exactly that!
๐ and thank you all again for the beautiful album ๐