William O. Taylor

Return to main article:

We note with sadness the death on May 1, at home in Boston, of William O. Taylor ’54, chairman emeritus of the Boston Globe, where he had served with distinction as publisher. Among his many other pro bono activities, Bill was a member of the Harvard Magazine Incorporated board of directors from 1995 to 2001 (much of that time alongside his classmate, Daniel Steiner ’54, LL.B. ’58)—a critical period when the forces now transforming publishing and the media took form and accelerated. His early insights into these changes regularly informed the magazine’s evolving responses. Even after he was diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2009, Bill remained a magazine incorporator and an informal counselor—roles that we especially remember and value. The Editors

Related topics

You might also like

I Used to Think AI Could Make Me a Better Writer

A former Harvard College writing tutor changes her mind on LLMs.

Jack Reardon and Walter Cabot, Remembered

Plus, veteran higher education leader Thomas Ehrlich reflects on university curricula for his 70th reunion

Harvard Magazine Questionnaire: Animal Love Stories

Tell us a story about the unique relationships between the animals in your life.

Most popular

Three Harvard Alumni and a Former Postdoc Named MacArthur Fellows

A labor economist, an organic chemist, a physicist, and a memory researcher were honored with 2026 “genius” grants.

As Federal Funding Slows, Harvard Invests $150 Million in Faculty Research

A new University fund is intended to bolster basic research and attract more industry partnerships.

Harvard Couple Aim to Cure Prion Diseases

The stakes are high for this husband and wife: one of them will die if they don’t find a cure.

Explore More From Current Issue

Modern building with large glass windows, surrounded by greenery and pedestrians.

A roundup of University news from the summer of 2026

Three actors perform on stage, with one actor interacting closely with another, set against abstract backgrounds.

The play Spare Parts is a contemporary fable about the quest to live forever.

A smiling William C. Kirby in a suit with glasses stands outdoors, surrounded by greenery.

The president of Harvard Magazine’s Board of Directors will step down in September.