Taylor Albert Rydahl

Taylor Albert Rydahl, age 22, passed away on March 14, 2017 at Carilion-Roanoke Memorial Hospital in Roanoke, VA.

He was born on July 22, 1994 in Chicago, IL to Keith Albert Rydahl and Margie Hoff.

Taylor was a brilliant, kind, and soft-spoken child, who loved writing stories, reading, and playing Pokémon.  His genuine belly laugh could light up any room.  He excelled at school, showing particular genius in mathematics and computers.  High School is where he truly came into himself, going from a sweet shy boy, to a blue-haired charismatic Prom King who was voted Most Friendly.  It was there he found a new passion in rugby, where he played with the Kenosha Vultures.  He graduated from Lakeview Technology Academy, engulfed in praises from his teachers and with lifelong friendships intact.  From there it was only up for Taylor.

He would go on to the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, where he would continue his love for rugby with the Oshkosh Mighty Pigs.  They affectionately called him “Taylor-Made” or “T-made” because he was excellent at everything.  In his last years of college, he moved in with the rugby guys and created a home filled with friendships that will never fade.  After graduating Oshkosh, his degree in Computer Science and Mathematics in hand, he continued to Virginia Tech for his PhD in Computer Science on a full scholarship.  There he shared his brilliance, kindness, and compassion with them in the last months of his life.

Taylor lives on through his loving parents, Keith and Margie; his little sister, Stephanie, step-parents, Craig Hoff and Carol Ann Rydahl along with his two grandmothers and uncountable number of aunts, uncles and cousins.  He will be remembered by his beloved girlfriend, Alicia Clark; friends, rugby buddies, family dogs and every single person whose life was richer because of him.