Westmont Magazine A Former Teacher to Help Future Teachers

Caryl Taylor ’64 faced a quandary as a sophomore at Westmont. She had planned to attend for only a year and then train as a dental assistant. But once she arrived on campus, she fell in love with the people and the place — and decided to stay. But what should she choose for a major?

Caryl finally settled on education so she could take classes with her friends, who wanted to be teachers. “It was a God thing,” she says. “He knew what was good for me.”

Two years ago, Caryl retired after 40 years as an educator. “I was blessed to be a teacher,” she says. “Once I got into the classroom, I found out how much I liked it. It was good to be surrounded by children.”

Caryl enjoys retirement too. “Who knew it would be this fun?” she says. She has become a volunteer at her church, Menlo Park Presbyterian, and she traveled to Greece with her Sunday school class to trace Paul’s journeys. “It was amazing to see the road where he walked,” she says.

She also volunteers at Fioli, a Bay Area estate open to the public, and works on fixing up the townhouse in Foster City where she has lived for 32 years.

In gratitude for all Westmont has given her — a career, lifelong friends and wonderful memories — Caryl has contributed faithfully. She started small with a modest monthly donation and worked her way up to the President’s Associates, committing at least $1,000 each year.

Caryl took another step in 2005 by creating an endowed scholarship for students with financial need and an interest in teaching. Since a gift from her estate will fund the endowment, she belongs to the Wallace Emerson Society.

As a child, Caryl met Emerson, who attended her church. She vividly remembers dining in his home. “To know him at an early age and then become a member of his society is so meaningful,” she says. “It’s an example of the many Westmont connections that continue to enrich my life.”

For more information about the Wallace Emerson Society, call Nancy Christel in the office of Gift Planning, (805) 565-6058 or (800) 998-5652.