Camden People - Howard Roy Taggart Sr.

HOWARD ROY "ROY" TAGGART was born in Camden, New Jersey on September 24, 1924, He was one of eight children born to Lorenzo and Lydia Higgs Taggart. After serving in the United States Navy during World War II on the Pacific, he returned to New Jersey. He was appointed to the Camden Fire Department in the fall of 1948. On August 30, 1949 he married Janet Estelle Werking, who was also born and raised in Camden.

By 1956 the Taggarts had been blessed with two children, Lynne and Howard Roy Jr. The family made their home at 345 Fountain Avenue in East Camden and remained at that address into the 1960s.

By 1967 Roy Taggart was promoted to Captain and assigned to the Fire School at South 8th Street and Morgan Boulevard to work as an instructor under District Chief John J. O'Neill. Chief O'Neill retired effective November 1, 1968 and it appears that Roy Taggart was promoted to District Chief and out in charge of the Fire School. His tenure there was no long, as unfortunately he was forced to retire on a disability pension late in 1969. His pension took effect April 1, 1970.

Roy and Janet Taggart departed from New Jersey when he left the Fire Department, moving from one Camden to another Camden when they put down roots in Camden, Maine. The family remained in Camden into the mid-1990s when they moved to South Portland, Maine. Janet Taggart died in October of 2009. Roy Taggart joined her on March 31, 2015

Camden Courier-Post * August 19, 1957

Firemen Here Get Advanced First Aid Course

More than 40 members of the Camden Fire Department have completed the Red Cross course in advanced first aid according to announcement today by Howard F. Keller, Collingswood, chairman of the Camden County Chapter's first aid committee.

Instruction sessions were under the direction of Fire Chief William V. Pfefferle, Drillmaster Anthony Dzinski, a member of the local chapter first aid group, assisted by Nicholas E. George, were instructors. Dzinski is a member of the Red Cross faculty at the National Aquatic School held in this area each year for instruction in advance safety techniques. Dick Harris, director of Red Cross safety services, supervised.

All members of the graduating class are personnel of several units housed at fire department headquarters here. These include the Headquarters Company, Engine Company 2, Rescue Squad 1 and Truck Company 1. These groups include:

Rescue Squad: Captains Arthur Batten, Philip A. Stinger and Albert Weller; Edward Brendlinger, Harrison MacNeir, Robert Olesiewicz and James W. Smith.

Headquarters Company: Raymond Banford, John K. Voll and John W. Yates.

Truck Company 1: Captains Daniel Jiannetto, Robert E. Dukes and Otto V. Kaiser; William Watkin, Chester Gedrich, George Baxter, John Mogck, George C. Hennessy, Charles Devlin, Ambrose W. Faust, Joseph McTaggart, Howard R. Taggart, William G. Winstanley and Elmer Johnson Jr.

Engine Company 2: Captains James R. Asher, Thomas Winstanley; Carl Wirtz, James McGrory, Edwin V. Decker, James Stewart, Francis X. McTaggart, Anthony T. Orme, Mario D. Fattore, James O. Jones, Francis P. Stibi, William Hopkins, Robert E. Briggs, John Giuliano, Casper Martelli, Harold H. Pike, John J. Vane, William Stibi, John DiMaggio and Harry Kleinfelder.

Camden Fire Department - Newly Appointed Firefighters - November 10, 1967

Standing L to R: Robert De Ford - Jesse Flax Sr. - Captain Roy Taggart - Chief Frank Deal - Chief of Department Edward V. Michalak - Robert "Sonny" Frett - Ferdinand Meloni
Walter Szatkowski - Don Harrison
Sitting L to R: Ernest Newkirk - John R. Cianfrani - August "Gus" Barbetta - Richard Prosser - Paul Delfing.

Rockland, Maine Free Press - October 2009

JANET ESTELLE TAGGART

Janet Estelle Taggart, 82, died Saturday, October 3, 2009, at Gosnell Memorial Hospice House in Scarborough. Born in Camden, New Jersey, on September 13, 1927, she was the daughter of William E. and Lucie Marie Werking. On August 30, 1949, she married Howard R. Taggart. For most of her life, she was a wife, mother, and homemaker. Her family meant the world to her. After retiring with her husband to Camden, she became a noted local antique dealer and collector. Mr. and Mrs. Taggart moved to South Portland in the mid 1990's.

Surviving is her husband of 60 years, Howard R. Taggart of South Portland; daughter Lynne Taggart of Brunswick; son Howard Roy Taggart, Jr. of Camden; grandchildren Allyson Taggart, Holly Anderson and husband Josh, all of Camden; Ryan Taggart and partner Holly Gallant of Warren; and twin great-grandsons, Gaven and Noah Taggart.

In keeping with her wishes, private services will be held at the convenience of the family. Memorial donations may be made to the Gosnell Memorial Hospice House, 11 Hunneywell, Scarborough, ME 04074. Funeral arrangements are with the Long Funeral Home, 9 Mountain Street in Camden. .

Rockland, Maine Free Press - April 2015

HOWARD R. TAGGART, SR.
SOUTH PORTLAND

Howard Roy Taggart, Sr, 90, died on March 31, 2015 at the VA Medical Center at Togus. Born in Camden, New Jersey on September 24, 1924, he was the son of Lorenzo and Lydia (Higgs) Taggart. During WWII, he served with the U.S. Navy on P.T. boats and survived a Kamikaze attack while aboard a P.T. tender. In 1946, he was honorably discharged from the Navy and in 1948, joined the fire department in Camden, New Jersey, retiring as a district chief in 1969. He married Janet Estelle Werking on August 30, 1949. In 1969, they moved to Camden, Maine and in the mid 1990s, they moved to South Portland. Mr. Taggart was a 32 degree member of Amity Masonic Lodge; the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and was a former member and past president of the Camden Lions Club in Camden, Maine. His hobbies included genealogy, carpentry, and history. Surviving are his two children, Lynne M. Taggart of Brunswick; Howard R. Taggart, Jr. and his wife, Carla Severson Taggart of Camden; three grandchildren, Allyson L. Taggart of Appleton; Holly E. Anderson and her husband, Josh of Lisbon; Howard R. Taggart of Camden; five great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his wife, Janet, and five sisters and two brothers. Services and interment will be private and held at the convenience of the family. Memorial gifts may be made to the Camden Lions Club, P.O. Box 235, Camden, Maine 04843. Condolences may be shared with the family at www.longfuneralhomecamden.com. Arrangements are with the Long Funeral Home & Cremation Service, 9 Mountain Street, Camden. .