BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Polly Hoover Taylor dedicated herself to environmental education for San Mateo’s children for more than five decades through her work to establish and nurture CuriOdyssey at Coyote Point. Throughout decades of change, Ms. Taylor was a constant guiding presence at CuriOdyssey.

Ms. Taylor graduated from Burlingame High School and Stanford University. Her charitable activities included the American Red Cross, Girl Scouts and PTA. Ms. Taylor had the vision and perseverance to join and create the early science and wildlife center for children in San Mateo County. In 1959, as a Coyote Point Auxiliary Member, she volunteered and cared for the museum’s animals.  With the Auxiliary’s fundraising organization, Taylor was a force in transforming the San Mateo County Junior Museum into Coyote Point Museum, which later became CuriOdyssey.

Ms. Taylor served on the museum’s Board of Directors, as a docent for the Environmental Hall, and chaired several Decorators’ Show Houses to raise funds for the museum, two of which were held at the Bing Crosby home. She and her late husband, Ted Taylor, celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary at CuriOdyssey to raise funds for the museum, and she donated the sculpture of two bears in San Mateo Central Park by sculptor, Albert Guibara, in honor of her husband and son, Denny. Ms. Taylor’s love for the museum and deep commitment to philanthropy influenced her daughter, Kathryn “Kat” Taylor to follow in her mother’s footsteps in co-chairing the capital Campaign for CuriOdyssey.