James Tait Elder

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Elder, James Tait Born in Baltimore, Maryland on March 9, 1925. He died April 6, 2016 in Roseville, Minnesota at the age of 91. Tait was the middle son of Fred Kingsley Elder and Ethyl Spotteswood Tait Elder. His older brother Kingsley and younger brother Sam were his main playmates during childhood. Tait was always very bright, patient and kind, and had a subtle, but outrageous sense of humor. Living for many years in Asheville, North Carolina, teenaged Tait and his brother King wrote, published and distributed a newspaper. Later, when Fred taught at the Naval Academy, Tait met the love of his life living across the street; Dorothy (Dofie) Corn. They were married in 1947 and were together until Dofie's death in August 6, 2015. Tait went to the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill on scholarship, where he majored in math and was in the ROTC. His education was interrupted when he was commissioned as a lieutenant on the USS Black, where he was in charge of 20 men in sonar, communications and coding. After the war, he returned to UNC to complete his math degree. Like his two other brothers, he received a PhD in Physics; Tait graduated from Johns Hopkins in 1952. Dofie and Tait then moved to Palmerton, Pennsylvania, where they began a family and Tait worked as a research manager at the New Jersey Zinc Company. They had Jay in 1952, Liz in 1956 and Bill in 1958. When Tait was hired by 3M as a research physicist in 1959, the family moved to St Paul, Minnesota. Here, Alex was born in 1962, and King in 1964. Tait advanced to research manager and co-invented TattleTape, which is the book theft-detection system still found in libraries today. This invention contributed to his being made General Manager of New Business Ventures at 3M. Tait became a national guru on business innovation and was quoted in Tom Peters' book, "In Search of Excellence". Before becoming a independent consultant, Tait's final corporate position was as a Vice President of Allied Chemical in Newark, New Jersey. During this time, Dofie directed the extensive renovation of a 100-year-old mansion. Dofie and Tait retired to build on the north shoreline of Lake Superior, surrounded by the woods of Gooseberry Falls State Park. The next 15 years were idyllic. From the early 80's onward, Tait was a computer enthusiast, buying a pre-PC model, and upgrading every few years. He insatiably became proficient in their uses and kept current on their advances. Tait passed this tendency to his kids, who embraced technology in their own careers. Dofie was an accomplished potter, who ran a pottery store in Two Harbors, while Tait consulted on a relaxed schedule. They worked outside, fished, looked at stars and animals, and enjoyed their personal Eden. By the time they reached age 75, Dofie and Tait decided to move to Olympia, Washington to be with their older children Jay and Liz and their families. Tait and Dofie met many new friends, enjoyed frequent get-togethers with family, and continued their hobbies. In 2014, they decided to move back to St Paul to be near other children and grandchildren for their remaining years. At Eagle Crest Senior Housing in Roseville, Minnesota they met new friends, and thoroughly enjoyed the good people who work there. Dofie died on August 6, 2015, and Tait joined her exactly 8 months later. His kids and friends will remember Tait as a true gentleman, who thought of others before himself and set an example for ethical living. He was brilliant but humble. If asked, he gave wise and nonjudgmental advice, but understood others' need for independence. Tait's humor was quick, subtle and hilarious. It never belittled anyone, but defused tension, highlighted a sense of perspective, identified patterns and analogies, and was often self-deprecating. Dofie and Tait leave 5 kids, 10 grandchildren, and 3 great-grand-children, who will never stop loving and thinking about them both.

Published on April 24, 2016