 Passing of a Florida Keys Guide & Writer/Photographer
Passing of a Florida Keys Guide & Writer
Captain Ben Taylor
Benjamin Isaac Taylor, formerly of Tavernier, passed away in Lakeland, FL on September 9, 2008. Ben and his wife Steffi had retired to the Green Swamp Preserve outside of Lakeland, where he continued his wildlife photography. He was born may 6, 1949, in Worchester, MA, and later moved to the Kansas City area, where he resided for may years, moved to Colorado and then to the Florida Keys. He was preceded in death by his sisters Susan Taylor and Debbie Elliot. He is survived by his wife Steffi Taylor, daughter Mrs.. Heather Medley, infant twin granddaughters Carolyn Grace and Brooklyn Elizabeth, his parents, Benjamin and Grace Taylor, sister Joyce Burton, brothers Keith and Logan Taylor, and stepsons Kurt and Erik Durnberg.
He was a Vietnam Veteran who proudly served his country as a Marine. After working in finance and banking in Kansas City, he moved to Colorado, and became a successful Bank President. He then followed his lifelong dream to the Florida Keys , beginning a professional guiding career in 1985. He guided many winners in a variety of fly-bonefish and fly-tarpon tournaments, becoming the first Keys guide to lead an angler to a third victory. He was also instrumental in securing sponsors for many of the areas charity tournaments. He served on the State Board of the Coastal Conservation Association during the fund-raising period for Florida's highly successful inshore net ban campaign. He wrote for the Free Press on many issues, (please insert copy) and served as an information Officer for the City of Homestead after Hurricane Andrew. He was the Keys Editor for the Florida Sportsman, and an internationally published author and photographer. His book, Fly fisher's Guide to the Florida Keys is scheduled for a second printing.
A private memorial services with full Marine honors was held in Lake Winnebago, Missouri, on October 30, 2008. A burial at sea and private memorial services will be held in Florida Bay on May 6, 2009.
Ben was laid to rest in the Florida Bay in the Arsnicker Key area aboard the "Tails Up Too" Capt. Len Roberts. A favorite Tarpon spot of Ben's. May he rest in peace. | 
