Former Chief Justice Marty W. K. Taylor passed away in California at about 2 p.m. on Feb. 18. He was 71.
His son, Anthony, said the death of his father was a shock to all of them.
“We did not know he had cancer. He was supposed to get treatment for his heart ailment and we were expecting him to be back here by April,” Anthony Taylor told the Variety.
He said his father showed no symptoms of cancer and they only learned of the disease’s advanced stage only a month ago.
He said had they known or seen symptoms, they would have sought medical treatment a long time ago.
Anthony Taylor said his father’s main legacy to the local community was his active involvement in the “patte pareho” issue, a Chamorro custom in which both spouses get an equal ownership interest in property in case of a divorce.
Marty W. K. Taylor retired as chief justice on Dec. 5, 1998 after 23 years of judicial service in the Northern Marianas.
He served as a public defender prior to his appointment as associate judge in 1989 by then-Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio.
On Sept. 22, 1995, the Senate confirmed Taylor’s nomination to the high court by then-Gov. Froilan C. Tenorio.
Anthony Taylor said his father had a wonderful life on Saipan.
“He was not born here, but it was here where he married and established his family. He considered Saipan his home,” Anthony Taylor said.
“He loved it here — the beautiful sunsets, the sea, fishing and everything about Saipan. He was a very family-oriented man,” he added.
His father was “very friendly to everyone, regardless of one’s origin or nationality.”
“What I miss most about my father is his incomparable sense of humor,” he said.
No final plans have been made for the funeral as they are still waiting for their mother to return to the island.
The former chief justice left behind his wife Celina DLG. Diaz and six children — Randy, Scott, Anthony, Theresa, Evelyn and Carla.
Shannon, the eldest, passed away several years ago.
