Taylor R. Saich

I may not have known him very well, but I can tell you, without a doubt,
that Taylor R. Saich was the coolest guy I've ever had the pleasure of knowing.

In the wee hours of the morning on Saturday the 15th of April, 2000, Taylor passed on from this world,
falling from a window at a great height while under the influence of alcohol.
He was 18 years old.

A memorial service was held for him at the Singapore American School on the 18th of April, 3 days later.
It was one of the saddest occasions i have ever attended.
I learned a lot about Taylor that day, about how although outside he was a raging party animal,
he also had another side, a sensitive, fragile, tender side, a part of him that was
bursting with love for himself, for his friends, for life.

My two best memories of Taylor stand out in my mind like they were yesterday.
The time at Carnegie's when Taylor got up on the table and started dancing to Ricky Martin's "Livin' La Vida Loca".
Everyone in the joint just stood there, rooted to the spot, watching him dance.
He was amazing. I don't think Ricky Martin himself could have done it as well as Taylor did.

The second memory is of the Superbowl earlier this year.
After the watching the Superbowl live at Dan Ryan's, we were standing outside blinking at the morning sun,
when Taylor popped out the door. He was wrapped up in a long string of Miller Lite and Superbowl flags, dancing around like he owned the world,
proclaiming the greatness of being american, how little he knew or cared about football, how the superbowl was just an excuse to drink beer
and make a nuisance of himself.
And at that moment, looking at Taylor, I could have believed that he did own the world.

And watching all his friends, teachers, and family come forward to speak about him, to pay him their last respects,
to let him know that he will always be with us, and let us know that we will always be with him,
I realised just how incredible a guy Taylor Saich was. How much he meant to so many people, how much he did, how much he cared, for so many of them.
He was so vibrant, so full of life, so much alive...
He could bring a smile to anyone's face.
Taylor was a living miracle. He was a great dancer, a great singer, a great athlete, and a great friend. He was a great person.

My heart goes out to his friends and family, especially his girlfriend Junia, and his mother and father.
I wish I had known him better. It is my greatest loss that I did not.

I hope all who knew and miss him can rest easy, knowing that only the good die young, and that, knowing Taylor,
he's probably partying harder than ever wherever he is.

Catch ya later, Tay. May your soul rest in peace.

Here also is a small collection of photographs of Taylor...
Pic 1
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Pic 3
Pic 4
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Pic 6