William H. Taylor, 88, prominent South Jersey engineer

William H. Taylor was in the depths of Alzheimer's disease during last year's presidential primaries. Still, he had the wit and wisdom to predict Donald Trump would be the next president.

Although Trump was not his choice, Mr. Taylor — a Democrat — had met the real estate magnate years ago, said Mr. Taylor's son Jeffrey. He was part of negotiations for the sale of a Manhattan skyscraper that Trump demolished to build something really big.

The two men shared a love for development. However, Mr. Taylor's vision extended to protecting the environment, maintaining open space, and incorporating the outdoors, whether he was helping design Burlington City's waterfront, the highways that slice through South Jersey, or his vacation home in the British Virgin Islands.

On Monday, May 29, Mr. Taylor, 88, of Haddonfield, died at home. His legacy remains in the government projects and eclectic vacation homes he designed at the Jersey Shore and in the British Virgin Islands. In Port Republic, Atlantic County, Mr. Taylor's property included a two-story floating porch equipped with motors to navigate the Nacote Creek, said his brother David.

He also rehabbed several homes at the Shore, a barn, and various additions to friends' homes. He loved model trains, and created an elaborate train layout for his home, his family said.

Helga, his wife of 66 years, said her husband took pride in his work. For 22 years, he was Burlington City's engineer overseeing urban planning and designs for redevelopment and historic restoration, including of the promenade on the Delaware River.

"He was very proud of that," his wife said. "It is a beautiful and wonderful asset for the city."

Mr. Taylor's brother said the two worked at the family's engineering firm when Mr. Taylor began waterfront work decades ago. Before officials could proceed with plans for the promenade, Mr. Taylor designed a water management system that included steel sheets to raise the riverbanks, bulkheads to control runoff, and pumping stations to protect low-lying areas.

Another project included improving infrastructure, including installing a water purification system, said former Burlington City Councilman Alexander Shultz. Mr. Taylor, Shultz said, received an engineering award for his promenade design. He also designed John F. Kennedy Park with a basin to control city flooding.

"He got along well with council, and he was very meticulous," Shultz said.

A native of Pennsauken, Mr. Taylor attended Pennsauken and Merchantville schools, where he was captain of the swim team. He played bass for a local swing band, the Blue Serenaders. And he also worked as a lifeguard in Wildwood Crest with this brother.

In 1950, Mr. Taylor graduated from Princeton University with a degree in civil engineering. He enlisted in the Navy, serving as an engineering officer on a destroyer escort during the Korean conflict, completing his tour in 1952, his son said.

Mr. Taylor then joined his father and brother at the engineering firm of Sherman, Taylor & Sleeper. He took night classes at the University of Pennsylvania, where he received a master's in civil engineering and urban planning in 1956.

Mr. Taylor obtained licenses for professional engineering, land surveying, and planning. He and his brother, David, became executives and principals of the engineering firm, which evolved into Taylor Wiseman & Taylor.

With the end of the war, Mr. Taylor emerged as a leader during South Jersey's industrial boom that included construction of Route 295 and Route 55, and transforming some agricultural land into housing and commercial communities.

From 1978 until 1984, Mr. Taylor was active locally and nationally for the American Society of Civil Engineers. He was a proprietor of West New Jersey, and served as the 12th Surveyor General of West New Jersey for 48 years, his family said.

He was a member of many other organizations, including New Jersey Society of Professional Engineers.

In 1981, Mr. Taylor retired as president of the family firm.

Mr. Taylor served as chairman of the Haddonfield Planning Board, helping to create the Historic District. He was also director and president of the Southern New Jersey Development Council; director of the NJ Alliance for Action; director and president of the Guidance Center of Camden County; board member and facilities chairman of Cooper Hospital; director of Fidelity Mutual Savings and Loan Association; and director and president of Indigo Association Ltd.

Mr. Taylor enjoyed scuba diving, sailing, and hiking with his wife throughout the United States and Europe.

He was passionate about current events, loved a good political debate, and was an early supporter of former U.S. Sen. Bill Bradley.

In addition to his wife, brother, and son, Mr. Taylor is survived by two other children, James and Anne Taylor Connor, six grandchildren, and two great-grandsons.

Services were private. Contributions in Mr. Taylor's memory may be made to Planned Parenthood of Northern, Central, and Southern New Jersey, 196 Speedwell Road, Morristown, NJ 07960, or to the Alzheimer's Association at www.alz.org. Arrangements were handled by Kain-Murphy Funeral Services of Haddonfield.