To everyone who knew him, Ryan Taylor was as close as one could come to being perfect. He was an all-American lacrosse player, a gifted student and an extremely popular person among his peers. Family, friends and teammates alike were stunned when they heard the news that Taylor committed suicide last Friday in his home state of California. Taylor graduated from the University in May as an economics major in the College and as the captain of the men's lacrosse team. "He was an extraordinary young man – he was as gifted intellectually as he was athletically," said Taylor's father, James. "He was nothing short of a super-achiever – everything that he ever did was wildly successful." Taylor's father said that no one was sure why Taylor decided to commit suicide, but he noted that Taylor had been going through a period of "increasing depression" for several months. "Part of it was because he was away from Penn," the elder Taylor said. During his four years at the University, Taylor played as a starter on the lacrosse team. The 6-foot-5, 210-pound midfielder was nearly indestructible as he picked up honor after honor during his years at the University. He was selected as an honorable mention all-American and named to the all-Ivy first team in both his junior and senior years. And Taylor's 83 career goals are fifth-highest in Penn's lacrosse team history. He was also winner of the team's Most Valuable Player and Best Offensive Player awards. "He was a very talented athlete, probably one of the most physically talented athletes I've had the pleasure of coaching," said men's lacrosse coach G.W. Mix last night. "I will be eternally grateful to him for the effort that he gave me as one of my players." During Taylor's last season, Mix also said, "if he's not the best player in the country, I don't know who is." James Taylor said his son's best memories were of the University. "Penn was the most enriching experience of his life," he said. "When he graduated in May? he was so sad that he was leaving Penn – he wasn't ready and he didn't want to." Taylor made many of his friendships at the University in the Fiji fraternity, where he was a brother. Fiji President and College junior Matt Wells said Taylor liked making people happy. "I think he was just somebody that everybody wanted to be around – he made people happy," Wells said. "If we were getting set to go out for a night, it wouldn't really begin until he got there." Wells added that several brothers and alumni headed out to Taylor's home town of Berkeley, Calif., to pay their condolences at a memorial service. Assistant to the President Nicholas Constan said last night that plans for a memorial service on campus for Taylor are underway, but no date has been set.
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