PORTLAND – Richard A. Taylor of Cape Elizabeth, formerly of Cundy’s Harbor, passed away April 21, four days after his 90th birthday at a local hospital, with his family by his side.

He was born in Oakland on April 17, 1917, the son of Herbert A. Taylor and Agnes Ophelia Webster of East Dixfield. After graduating from Edward Little High School, he joined the Merchant Marine.

He was a second assistant engineer when the Stanvac Melbourne was torpedoed on April 11, 1942, off Charleston, S.C., and was acknowledged by Sacony-Vacuum for his heroic efforts. He was also aboard the Stanvac when it was again torpedoed and sunk on Sept. 12, 1942, off Trinidad. Mr. Taylor was in the Naval Reserve and joined the U.S. Navy as an engineering officer. Lt. Taylor proudly served on the USS Ballard and the Bath-built USS Nicholas, a destroyer, which by special request of Admiral Halsey, escorted the USS Missouri into Tokyo Bay for the surrender signing with Japan on Aug. 1945.

He married his childhood sweetheart, Helen Morrill, of Auburn, on March 22, 1942, in New York. They lived in Auburn until the ’50s, when they moved their family to Cundy’s Harbor.

Dick had a passion for the sea. He was a lobster fisherman, and a heating and plumbing engineer. He won many photography awards and was a member of the Portland Camera Club.

He was a creative writer, and wrote poetry and short stories. For several years, he wrote the weekly column, “Tide Talk,” for the Brunswick Times Record.

He liked to hunt and fish, and was a member of the Biggest Bucks in Maine Club. He was extremely quick-witted, was a great cook and will be remembered for his baked beans and muffins he generously shared with his neighbors and friends.

He was also a longtime and honorary member of the Tranquil Lodge 29 of Auburn.

He will be greatly missed by his sister, Lucille Corbett, of Allendale, N.J.; his daughters, Janice Corey of Portland, Carole Taylor and her husband, Phil Kras, of Leominster, Mass., Susan and her husband, Marcus Beebe, of Terrebonne, Ore., and Patricia Forte and Jay Kozak of San Francisco.

Mr. Taylor (Poppio) is also survived by eight grandchildren, Conrad Baratta, Sam Bush, and Brian Corey of Columbia, S.C., Pfeffer and Ryan McMakin of Savannah, Ga., Darren and JoAnna Corey of Gorham, Jill Corey of South Portland, and Roger Forte and Naomi Kozak of San Francisco; two great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews; and his beloved four-legged best friend and companion, Jake Morgan.

He was predeceased by his brother, Kenneth R. Taylor; his son, Richard A. “Ricky” Taylor Jr.; and his beloved wife, Helen, who passed away in May 2006.