Community remembers coach and educator who died after the crash

The community mourns the death of Dylan Taylor, a well-known paraeducator and athletics coach of Menlo Park and Atherton students. After a fatal collision with a Green WaSt truck in the Middlefield Road Road, Taylor killed Taylor on May 7, the schools shared support for those who deal with the loss.

Taylor, who ran a bike at the time of the collision, worked as a para -ductor for primary school in Menlo Park City and Las Lomitas. He also trained HillView Middle School students for flag football, athletics and basketball and was the newcomer football coach of the Menlo Aterton High School.

Taylor was not only a pedagogue and trainer, but was also seen as the community leader and mentor.

The MPCSD superintendent Kristen Gracia said she had the pleasure of being Taylor's first teacher over 20 years ago. She remembers him as “energy of energy”, inspired and always with a smile on this face – which all remained true in his adulthood.

“I remember that he gave hugs and wanted to be with his classmates and his teachers – right there in the mix,” said Gracia. “It makes sense for me that he was so well connected in the community.”

Nick Fogel, a PE teacher at the HillView Middle School, said Taylor had a special way to connect with his students. He was known to give each child a nickname and to give the relationship with each student to give a personal touch, he said.

“He was a unique type himself and had the ability to see this uniqueness among other children,” added Fogel. “Dylan had a way over him, where he combined with so many different personalities, could refer to them and get the best out of them.”

Behind the Encinal Elementary School, a memorial bloomed on the side of the road on the corner of Prior Lane in Atherton in honor of Taylor with bouquets of flowers, photos and a white bicycle, which serves as a symbol of the tragedy. Read messages in the photos “More than one coach” and “We love you Dylan!”

In the days after his death, the Las Lomitas Elementary School District and the Menlo-Aterton High School shared a message with the parents that they informed about Taylor's death. School administrators offered the students and resources for comforting grieving children additional consulting support.

In order to improve security, Atherton's police announced that they have more assertive efforts along the Middlefield Road and will carry out additional training in terms of bicycle, pedestrian and driver safety.

The authorities continue the investigation of the fatal crash. The police say that the driver of the garbage trolley is cooperative and they do not believe that drugs or alcohol were factors in the incident.

“Greenwatste is aware of the incident who took place in Atherton with one of our drivers. Our thoughts are with everyone who is affected in this difficult time,” said Patrick Harbison, spokesman for Greenwatst, a waste removal company with a contract for the company in Atherton. “The security of the community and our team members is of central importance for the values ​​of Greenwatste, and we work with the local authorities while continuing their investigations.”

A memorial service will take place on Sunday, May 18, at 2 p.m. in the Sequoia Room in the Arrillaga Recreation Center, 700 Alma St., Menlo Park. Taylor's family asks the community to donate the Reikes Center in Redwood City in Dylan's names instead of flowers.