Dr. James Edward Tillotson

Dr. James Edward Tillotson on Sunday April 23, 2023 Jim Tillotson passed away in the ICU at South Shore hospital in Weymouth, Massachusetts.

Jim was born on February 9, 1929 in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He is preceded in death by his wife Cynthia of forty-eight years in March of 2006, and his daughter Kimberley Wolgamuth in 2001 at the age of thirty-eight. He in survived by his daughter Pamela Desrosiers, son-in- law Mark, and grandson Josh, as well son-in-law Todd Wolgamuth and his granddaughter Katie. Jim is also survived by his partner of the last few years, Anne Collins.

Jim was a graduate of Belmont Hill school in Belmont, Massachusetts. He obtained his undergraduate degree from Harvard in 1953, his Masters degree from Boston University in 1956, and his Doctorate from MIT in 1964. He also received Business degree from The University of Delaware in 1969.

Jim worked early in his career in chemical policy at DuPont in Wilmington, Delaware following his graduation from MIT. He then went on to work in food policy as the Vice-president of research and development at Ocean Spray Cranberries in Plymouth, Massachusetts, until his retirement in 1989. He was the founder of ARD Inc., a consulting firm in the food industry. Following his retirement from Ocean Spray, Jim began a new career as a professor of food policy in the school of nutrition at Tufts University. He was also an adjunct professor of international business at the Fletcher school of Law and Diplomacy and an adjunct professor of family medicine and community health at the school of medicine. Jim retired from Tufts in 2016.

Jim was always an athlete. He loved bicycling, and even worked repairing bikes in college. He loved playing tennis and squash. While living in Delaware, he was ranked eighth in the state in tennis. In the late seventies he discovered a passion for Ballroom dancing. He and Cynthia took many lessons and spent hours dancing with friends. Jim went on to also compete in many pro-am competitions with his instructors and was quite successful. Jim sparked an interest in ballroom dancing in his granddaughter Katie, who continues the family tradition of competition today. He was still taking lessons and practicing until just a few months before his death.

Jim also enjoyed writing. He published many scientific papers, he loved to write biographical pieces as well short stories. In recent years, Jim developed a love of cooking, baking, and painting.

There will be visitation hours at McNamara - Sparrell Funeral Home in Cohasset, MA on May 11th, from 5-8pm. The following day there will be a brief graveside service at the Belmont Cemetery in Belmont, Massachusetts at 11:00 am. Relatives and friends invited to attend.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Jim’s memory can be made to Tufts Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy c/o “Child Obesity 180”-150 Harrison Avenue, Boston, MA 02111 or childobesity180.org

Visit www.mcnamara-sparrell.com for guestbook.