TAYLOR, BOBBY “MONK”
Bobby “Monk” Taylor, 84, of Toronto, lost his battle with cancer, on August 20, 2023, in his home, surrounded by family. He was as stubborn as always, and fought until the very end. He was born March 5, 1939, in Barrow-in-Furness, England, to Joyce and Robert Taylor. Taylor was bred for professional sports. His grandfather and uncles were professional fighters and they raised him in the boxing ring. Taylor’s strength on the field led him to a total of 521 receptions and 8 203-yards in his career. He played professional football for fourteen years, and with the Grey Cup just within his grasp, he made it to finals 11 times. He was positioned on the field as wide receiver for the Calgary Stampeders (1961-65), Toronto Argonauts (1966-70, 74), Hamilton Tiger-Cats (1971), and Edmonton Eskimos (1971-1973). Deemed as a “pass-catching sensation” by The Leader-Post, Taylor was not just a football player – as the seasons changed so did the equipment. Taylor had a 9-year career in hockey, playing on the Western and Eastern Hockey Leagues, as well as the American Hockey League. Only a handful of professional athletes played both sports. In 1971, Taylor teamed up, off the field, with Bill Symons, another Argo player, to open a sports bar named the Dome Stadium that he owned for 8 years. A few years later, in 1975, he bought the Black Bull Tavern. When asked about the transition from sports into business, he explained, “I basically run my business the same way a football team or hockey team is run. I am the owner, then there is the general manager, and within your staff is the head coach and players.” To this day, a few of the original Black Bull staff remain – a testament to how he ran his business and treated his team. He met his late wife, and former model, Judith Grant in 1968. She died on December 13, 2017. Taylor mourned her until the very end, and he is reunited with her at last. Taylor is is survived by his son, Robert Taylor, Jr., daughter, Janet Taylor; and two grandchildren, James and Janine Bartels. The family would like to thank all of the Black Bull staff for their incredible support and loyalty over the years. Funeral Services will be Sunday, August 27th, starting at 12 p.m. at Ridley Funeral Home (3080 Lake Blvd. W., Toronto). A Celebration of Life will follow at the Black Bull, starting from 2 p.m.
VIA: https://obituaries.thestar.com/obituary/bobby-taylor-1088708734
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