Longtime Westporter, active community volunteer and former Board of Education member Faith Hutchinson Taylor died peacefully at home on Sunday, surrounded by her family. She was 70 years old, and had lived with ALS since early 2025.
Faith moved to Westport from Rowayton in 1989, and wasted no time getting involved in the community. She joined the board of the Westport Library, and began forging relationships with a number of community members.
Earlier in her career Faith was director of development at Planned Parenthood of Southern New England. She held the same position at Norwalk Hospital.
She began her career in Washington, working to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment. Later, as her children began to leave the nest, Faith went back to work, first as administrator at the Unitarian Church in Westport, then in a similar role at Earthplace.
Faith also served 4 years on the Board of Education, after holding various PTA leadership roles. She retired in 2020.
Faith Taylor
Faith grew up in Old Greenwich, the youngest of 5 children. She met her future husband, Teddy Sullivan, at nursery school in Riverside. They celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary in May.
Faith was an intrepid traveler, and imbued her children with that same passion. There were family trips to Europe, and summer vacations on the coast of Maine. She loved walking trips in France, Italy and Japan.
But her passion was being near the water, whether Penobscot Bay in Maine, Squam Lake in New Hampshire or Compo Beach in Westport. Even as her illness took its toll Faith strolled with her walker at Compo, while her dog Olive cavorted at water’s edge.
Faith felt blessed to have 3 children and 4 grandchildren. They were her greatest joy, always eager to come to Westport to be with their beloved “Birdie.”
Faith is survived by her husband Ted Sullivan; sister Holly Taylor Young; children Theo Sullivan, Annie Sullivan (Devlin) and Jane Sullivan (Culhane), and 4 grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Westport on November 7 (2 p.m.) In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Compassionate Care ALS and/or Aspetuck Land Trust.
