John Y. Taggart
John Yeatman Taggart, a nationally known tax lawyer in his working years passed away on December 30, 2024, with his daughters by his side.
John was intelligent, humorous and goofy. He excelled in making up songs and poems spontaneously. He laughed uproariously at jokes he had told 100’s of times. He was a self-taught chef, woodworker, magician, Halloween costume maker, ballroom dancer, an insatiable music lover, and a world traveler. He loved New York City through and through.
John loved all kinds of cocktails, a little too much, as the doormen in his building can attest to. His internal filter was a tad off kilter. For such a refined man who wore an ascot on his more casual days, he could really surprise his company, and later his caregivers, with his bawdy non-sequiturs.
Born in Decatur, Illinois on March 9, 1932, he and his parents soon returned to the family farm in Delaware, Ohio to ride out the Depression. John’s bedroom was a converted porch with no heat. He excelled in school, and graduated from Ohio State University and was a lifetime fan of the Ohio State football team. He eventually earned a JD degree after 3 years of service as a navy air intelligence officer and a masters of law degree from New York University. By then he was married with children and a resident of New York City. John spent the rest of his life there (other than a short stint living in Arlington, Va. while working at the treasury department). John eventually became a citizen of France, after living there part time in his later years.
After 23 years of marriage, he and his first wife, Marilyn Harris, divorced. His second marriage to Laura Lou Meadows ended with her death after 31 years of marriage. He is survived by his sister, Virginia Anne Wilson, and by his two daughters from his first marriage, Hilary Taggart Giffin, and Cassie Yeatman Taggart, as well as his grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
John did not want a service.
In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made to NY public library.
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Click Here for Livestream Mary Ginty Visitation: Monday August 24, 2026 9am-930 AM John Krtil Funeral Home 1297 1st Ave New York, NY 10021 Funeral Mass: Monday August 24, 2026 10 AM St. John Nepomucene 411 E66th St New York, NY 10065 Private Cremation
Thomas F. Burchill III Funeral Mass: Tuesday August 18, 2026 10 AM Church of St. Ignatius Loyola 980 Park Ave New York, NY 10028 Inurnment: Tuesday August 18, 2026 1 PM Calverton National Cemetery 210 Princeton Blvd Calverton, NY 11933
Pilar Sierra Visitation: Sunday August 9, 2026 2pm - 7pm John Krtil Funeral Home 1297 1st Ave New York, NY 10021 Funeral Mass: Monday August 10, 2026 10 AM St. John Nepomucene 411 E66th St New York, NY 10065 Private Cremation
Betty Jane Sloan Visitation: Monday August 3, 2026 4pm - 7pm John Krtil Funeral Home 1297 1st Ave New York, NY 10021 Private Cremation
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Alexander H. Beard, Jr Funeral Service Saturday August 29, 2026 St. Bartholomew's Chuch 2pm 325 Park Ave New York, NY 10022
Henry "Imrich" Michtalik Visitation: Thursday July 9, 2026 2pm - 8pm John Krtil Funeral Home 1297 1st Ave (between East 69th St & East 70th St) New York, NY 10021 Funeral Mass: Friday July 10, 2026 10 AM St. John Nepomucene 411 E66th St New York, NY 10065 Burial: Gate of Heaven Cemetery Hawthorne, NY
Sylvia Hochfield