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| Arlington Heights resident Joe Taylor (Courtesy of Joe Taylor |
For more than 50 years, Arlington Heights resident Joe Taylor has dedicated his life to serving his students at Loyola Academy in Wilmette, first as a math teacher, followed by his work as chairman of the campus ministry and today, as a chaplain supporting the adults on campus. This month, Taylor, 75, who was diagnosed in 2012 with Parkinson's disease, is being honored with the Rev. Daniel A. Lord, S.J. Award, a long-standing tradition at the private Catholic high school, which recognizes outstanding service in the cause of youth. We visited with Taylor and his wife, Audrey, this week at their home in the village, where Joe shared a few highlights of what he described as a wonderful life of service to teens.
Q: Tell us about how your path led you to work at Loyola Academy?
A: I grew up in Indiana in a family of eight children. After high school, I wanted to go to the University of Notre Dame, and I got accepted, but we couldn't afford it, so I came to Chicago, and I received my undergraduate and master's degrees at Loyola University Chicago, which is where I met Audrey. We were married in 1964, and our oldest daughter was born the next year. I started teaching math at Loyola Academy in June of 1965, so this is my 52nd year. After three years, they made me the temporary chairman of the department, and that lasted 13 years. And after that, I was made the chairman of the campus ministry, and then, they created another job for me, as the adult chaplain, which focuses on the spiritual needs of our teachers and staff.
Q: Do you think teenagers have changed dramatically over the past 50 years?
A: I think back in the 1960s, more kids actually went to Mass, but the kids today seem to have so much more depth. During the summer, we have 300 kids who are actively involved in community service.
Q: How has living with Parkinson's Disease changed your experiences working at the high school?
A: When I first learned I had been chosen for this award, I was in tears, which is one of the benefits of Parkinson's, as I'm showing more emotions these days. After I got the diagnosis and went back to school, I was working with the kids who are members of our Amnesty International-Pax Christi group. They're all great kids who give up their lunch hour for our meetings. I remember telling them, 'I don't want you to worry about me if I shake or if my face looks funny, and please don't look away.' I think some of them were a little shocked, but they understand.
Q: I see the painting of Christ on your living room wall is surrounded by photographs of your seven children and 22 grandchildren. Has your service to Christ always been central to your life?
A: Yes, it has. Because of Christ's example and his death and resurrection, as people we are called to have hope and joy, because someday, we will be raised up again, just like Jesus was. I've also looked up to people like Cesar Chavez, the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., and Nelson Mandela, who are famous models of the social justice mission. I think we're all called to go into this kind of a mess, and bring more hope and love into the world.
kcullotta@tribpub.com
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/arlington-heights/news/ct-ahp-joe-taylor-shout-out-tl-1103-20161101-story.html
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