Randall R. Taylor

Randall R. Taylor, known to his family and friends as Randy, passed away peacefully on July 2, 2026, at his home in Delanson, New York, at the age of 100.

The son of Raymond and Mary (Wagner) Schlappich, and brother of the late Ardell Katzenmoyer, Randy was born on November 18, 1925, in Wernersville, Pennsylvania.

As a beloved husband for over forty years to Karen Polsinelli, and a proud father to Ronald Taylor (Colleen Corcoran), Robert Taylor (Duncan Morrison), Ranann Taylor (Alan Harvey), and Roxanne Taylor, Randy was also a devoted grandfather to Cody Taylor and Max Taylor.

A WWII Army Air Corps veteran, Randy was passionate about science, education and the natural world, and as a longtime science teacher for the Niskayuna Central School District, he found great joy in helping students learn, grow, and discover the world around them.

He embraced the outdoors with enthusiasm, and as an avid hunter, fisherman, golfer and skier, he shared his love of nature and adventure with his family and everyone he met.

Calling hours for Randy will be held on Sunday, July 12, 2026 from 3 pm to 5 pm at the Glenville Funeral Home, 9 Glenridge Road Glenville, NY 12302.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to American Red Cross, PO Box 37839 Boone, IA 50037-0839 or to The Community Hospice, 310 S. Manning Blvd. Albany, NY 12208 .

Arrangements are under the direction of Mason Memorial Home. Online condolences www.masonmemorial.com

To Dad

When we were growing up, Dad had a saying for everything.

If you did something dumb, he’d say:

“What did you do that for? If you had another brain, it would be

lonesome!”

If you tried to defend yourself by saying “Well, I thought . . .”, he’d say:

“That was your first mistake - don’t think!”

If you tried and failed at something, he’d say:

“Well, you can’t win ‘em all.”

If you were nervous or afraid of doing something, he’d say:

“You can’t wrap yourself up in cellophane.”

Or if you were really worried about something, he’d say:

“Well, worrying isn’t going to solve anything!”

If you were proud of something you did and told him so, he’d say:

“Well, bless your pointed little head. Do you want a medal, or a chest to

pin it on?”

If you hurt your finger, he’d say:

“Maybe if I step on your toe, you won’t notice your hurt finger anymore.”

Or if you were really bugging him, he’d say: “Rain makes things beautiful,

why don’t you go out and stand in it for awhile.”

Surprisingly, we got used to these short little matter-of-fact self esteem

builders. We kinda knew what to expect and they didn’t really damage our

psyches or crush our souls. (Although somehow I think the current

youngest generation might be devastated for life by any one of them).

No, on the contrary, they seemed to help us put things in perspective - to

gauge the real importance of things, somehow giving us a sense of

security and order in the world - and to not take ourselves too seriously.

(Now wouldn’t that be something the world could use today!)

And speaking of the world today, Dad had another little saying:

“Solving all of the world’s problems is easy - it’s getting everyone to agree

on the solutions that’s difficult!”

Dad taught us to see the world in a rational scientific manner. To

investigate, learn about and understand how things work, rather than

accept conspiracy theories and nonsensical mythologies perpetrated by

the uneducated.

The only mythology he ever created was the one that I swear generated

my brother’s life-long interest in birds: That was the woodsman’s friend,

the “Pink-Bellied Grex Grex”. If you needed water, that bird would lead

you to it. If you were cold, it would strike its claws together, making a

spark to start your fire. And if you were hungry, it would sacrifice itself and

jump into your frying pan to give you a meal.

That story made us know we were always safe, and there was always

hope.

Here’s to a great teacher - our beloved father, husband, grandfather,

father-in-law and friend! And here’s to his wife Karen, whose love and devotion kept him with us for over a century.