Jerry died Aug. 20, 2014, at his home in Cincinnati after an extended illness. His dog, Toby, one of his beloved Norwich terriers, was at his bedside.
After graduating from Wyoming High School in Ohio in 1945, he was inducted into the Army and served as a supply sergeant at Fort Lee, Va., until honorable discharge in 1946. At Princeton, he was managing editor of the Bric-a-Brac, belonged to Tower Club, and graduated with honors in economics.
He began in sales with a small manufacturing company in Cincinnati, then formed his own manufacturing agency in 1965. In 1983, he made an abrupt career change: He picked up his paintbrushes and started James Taylor Decorative Arts, where he created painted art objects and accepted commissions from galleries and decorators.
Jerry spent more than 60 summers in Nantucket, where he restored a historic home he purchased in 1966, furnishing it with classic pieces and artwork. He especially enjoyed entertaining, exhibiting his cooking skills in Cincinnati with Tex-Mex chili and in Nantucket with varied preparations of freshly caught bluefish.
We extend sympathy to Anne, his wife of 37 years; his sons, James III and Maxwell; daughter Jessica; and six grandchildren.