Sacred Heart alumna and former drama professor Lillian Taylor passed away Jan. 31, 2011. Taylor was a 1950 graduate of Sacred Heart Academy and a 1959 graduate of Sacred Heart College. She was a member of the Adorers of the Blood of Christ and was originally named Sister M. Theophane Taylor. She later returned to her baptismal name and was known as Sister Lillian Taylor. She taught in various schools in Kansas then began teaching music at Sacred Heart Academy. She taught speech and drama at Sacred Heart College from 1962 to 1969, during which time she earned a master’s degree in speech and drama from Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wis. While at Sacred Heart she produced many plays and musicals which drew large audiences.
Taylor requested a dispensation from her vows, which was granted in 1970. She then moved to Santa Fe, N.M., where she taught drama, speech, humanities and English at the College of Santa Fe. She also served as music minister for several parishes in the Santa Fe area. In 2002, she received the Beata Netemeyer Award from Newman University.
Newman is currently raising funds to revive its theatre program. Anyone wishing to make a gift to support Newman University theatre in Taylor’s honor can do so here.
