Donald
C. Taylor was a chorister in the Men and
Boys Choir of the Cathedral Church of Saint
John from age eight to thirteen (1938-1943).
His three-year older brother Arthur was also in the Choir and they both attended Sunday school at the Cathedral.
Don was lead soprano, until his voice changed and he sang alto. He also served as an acolyte. There happened to be three other Donald's in the Choir with Don Taylor, so he took on the nickname "Ducky" after the Donald Duck cartoon character which had just been created by Disney. One of the other Donald's was Donald Carmichael, who now lives in southern Delaware. The nickname "Ducky" stuck with Don Taylor all through his college years at Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.
At the time Don sang in the Choir, the Choirmaster was Paul Terry and the Dean of the Cathedral was Hiram R. Bennett. According to Don, "Paul Terry was a great man who knew how to handle boys. He was strict, fair and kind. He knew when to be tough and when to be soft. I learned to appreciate music thanks to Mr. Terry. I also learned how to be disciplined, to have fun and to take responsibility."
Don tells the following story, as an example of Mr. Terry's fairness and his insistence that you say exactly what you mean: "One time I wanted to go to a party that was at a girl's house in my neighborhood on a night when there was Choir rehearsal. Knowing that Mr. Terry did not take absences lightly, I ran all the way from my house on 34th Street to the Cathedral to ask his permission. Mr. Terry always got to rehearsal early, and when I saw him, I asked, "Mr. Terry, can I miss rehearsal tonight to go to a party around my house."
"You mean the party will be around your house?" asked Mr. Terry.
"No, it will be in the next block near my house," I replied.
"Ducky, what are you doing here?" asked Mr. Terry.
"What do you mean what am I doing here?" I asked.
"Ducky, what are you doing here?" said Mr. Terry, "You should be at the party."
Another fond memory of Don's was going to Camp Appoquinimink in the summer with Mr. Terry and his fellow choristers, one of which he remembers was Irenee "Rip" duPont. The camp was located near St. Andrew's School. Twenty to thirty youth from the Choir would go for ten days free of charge to enjoy swimming and the great outdoors. Don said this was an unusual treat for someone growing up during the Depression. He also appreciated the 25 cent per month stipend (which was raised to $1.25 by the time he left the Choir). He also liked receiving special gifts of chocolate and fruit at Christmas and Easter time.
This formative experience of singing in the Men and Boys Choir has served Don well in life. Don Taylor is a co-founder of the firm Cooch and Taylor located in Wilmington, and has been listed in each edition of "The Best Lawyers in America" as one of the best real estate lawyers in Delaware. Mr. Taylor earned his undergraduate degree at Dickinson College in 1952 and his J.D. from The Dickinson School of Law in 1954. He has served on the Boards of Dickinson School of Law and the Delaware Chapter of the American Red Cross.
For twenty years Mr. Taylor served as the Chancellor of The Episcopal Diocese of Delaware.
Don died in 2005.