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Condolences:
James L. & Jane R. Shroads
Our deepest sympathy.
Hilay Zachary
My thoughts are with you at this time.
Curt Solomon
Bob was a respected colleague and a friend. I will miss him. My prayers are with your family.
Jodi & Mark Daley
BJ, I am so sorry for your loss. Bob was truly a wonderful man whose kindness, warmth, and character touched so many lives. I feel grateful to have known him and will always remember him with great respect and fondness. May the many memories you shared bring you comfort in the days ahead. My heartfelt thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
Martha Hayes
So sorry for your loss. May God wrap his arms around you and comfort you.
Guy O. Kornblum
Bob and I grew up together in the same neighborhood in Terre Haute. I am as couple year older but so he trailed me in the same schools in Terre Haute. Our parents, mine Guy and Gilberta Kornblum, were best friends, so our families socialized together a great deal. His folks were special, very loving and entertaining -- both with great personalities. Theirs was a family of high moral principles and standards. Bob was a great young man and friend. He sure looks like his Dad in the picture!! Respectfully, Guy Kornblum
Kathia Ortiz Cantillo
Some people enter our lives quietly,and without realizing it, they become part of the foundation that keeps us standing. Dr. Robert Taylor was one of those people. What began as the privilege of being his physician became one of life’s greatest gifts—his friendship. Trust cannot be prescribed, earned overnight, or taken for granted. It is built one conversation, one act of kindness, one shared moment at a time. His trust in me was a gift I will always carry with profound gratitude. As a physician, I have always believed that healing goes far beyond treating a diagnosis. It begins by seeing the person beyond the illness, beyond appearances, beyond fear—caring for the body, the mind, and the spirit as one. Robert understood that. He believed in me, in my knowledge, and in the way I cared for people as whole human beings. His confidence in me strengthened me more than he will ever know. When my world shattered with the tragic loss of my beloved son, Rafael, he never looked away from my pain. He stood beside me with unwavering loyalty. He offered comfort without trying to erase the grief, and when injustice demanded a voice, he did not hesitate to raise his. In some of my darkest moments, he reminded me that I was not walking alone. Today, I grieve not only the passing of someone I had the honor of caring for, but the loss of a true friend—a man whose trust, kindness, and steadfast support became a blessing in my life. Thank you, Robert, for believing in me, for trusting my hands and my heart, and for reminding me that friendship is one of God’s greatest gifts. Your absence leaves a silence that words cannot fill, but your place in my heart will never be empty. May you now rest in the peace of Christ, embraced by the same love and compassion you so generously shared with those around you. Until we meet again, my dear friend.
Dr. Robert Leonard "Bob" Taylor, MD
2026-07-11
Robert Leonard "Bob" Taylor, M.D., 84, of Fernandina Beach, Florida, passed away peacefully on July 11, 2026.
Born on December 14, 1941, in Terre Haute, Indiana, Bob was the son of Robert and Norma Taylor. He graduated from Wiley High School in 1959 before entering Indiana University's pre-medical program. His exceptional academic achievements earned him early admission to the Indiana University School of Medicine in 1962, where he received his Doctor of Medicine degree in 1966.
Following medical school, Bob completed his internship at Methodist Hospital Graduate Medical Center in Indianapolis and was honored as Outstanding Intern of the Year in 1967. He then remained at Methodist to complete his residency in General Surgery.
After completing his residency, Bob proudly served his country as a physician in the United States Air Force. Stationed at Chanute Air Force Base in Rantoul, Illinois, he served from 1971 until 1973.
Upon completing his military service, Bob established a general surgery practice in Danville, Indiana. In 1979, he and his family relocated to Fernandina Beach, Florida, where he continued his surgical career at Nassau General Hospital, later known as Baptist Medical Center Nassau. He retired from medicine in 2002 after a distinguished career spanning more than 35 years.
Above all else, Bob was devoted to his family. He is survived by his beloved wife, Betty Jo "BJ" Taylor; his son, Ryan Taylor; his daughter, Kimberly Pratnicki and her husband, Stan; and his cherished grandchildren, Samantha and Dillon Taylor.
He is also lovingly remembered by his stepchildren, Trey Martin and his wife, Kate; Lance Martin and his wife, Vicki, and by his step-grandchildren, Zach Martin and Ridge Martin and three great grandchildren.
Bob will be remembered for his quiet strength, his sense of humor and his love of medicine. His legacy lives on in the lives he touched as a physician, husband, father, grandfather, mentor, and friend. He will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, September 5, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, 2600 Atlantic Avenue, Fernandina Beach, Florida.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society https://www.cancer.org/donate.html or Prince of Peace Lutheran Church https://poplcweb.com/give .
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