Ned Taft

HOLDEN - Edward P. “Ned” Taft III, 59, of Holden, MA, formerly of Wellesley, MA, died at home on September 5, 2009.

He was the President of Alden Research Laboratory in Holden. He is survived by his beloved wife of 36 years, Libby (Johnson) Taft; his daughter, Betsey Taft McCarthy and her husband, Billy, of Worcester, MA; his son Ben and his fiancée, Lisa Spinelli of Hamden, CT; his granddaughter, Fiona Taft McCarthy of Worcester; and his sister, Betsey Taft Colby and her husband, Bill of Annisquam, MA. He is also survived by brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, a nephew and several great-nieces and great-nephews.

Born in Englewood, NJ, Ned graduated from the Englewood School for Boys. He became a nationally recognized fisheries biologist with degrees from Brown University and Northeastern University. He began his career in the emerging field of environmental protection at Stone and Webster Engineering Corporation during the 1970’s when the Clean Water Act forced electrical utilities to consider the impact of cooling water withdrawal on fish. He designed cutting edge field and laboratory experiments to determine fish survival and behavior associated with a range of fish protection systems and he helped develop a patented Modular Inclined Screen to guide fish out of water intakes. He did much of his pioneering work as a client at Worcester Polytechnic Institute’s Alden Research Laboratory. He was hired by Alden after it became a private company and he built a world-renowned environmental sciences group there. In 2000, Mr. Taft became President of Alden and led the lab through a major growth period, nearly tripling the number of employees. In June 2009, he was presented with a Recognition Award by the Electric Power Research Institute for his outstanding leadership and accomplishments in fish protection.

While at the helm of Alden, Ned made community outreach a priority, particularly with regard to public education. Alden’s contributions have included an annual water quality and fish counting field trip for Mountain View Middle School seventh graders, the donation of a wind tunnel to Wachusett Regional High School, sponsorship of a little league baseball team, funding for local teachers to attend a National Science Teacher’s Association meeting, and sponsorship of Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical High School’s robotics program. Ned also mentored a number of Wachusett Regional High School students for their science fair projects.

In addition to his professional career, Ned served as a Cub Scout Master for several years in Wellesley, participated in the Indian Princess program with his daughter, and attended virtually every game or event in which his children participated. He was a mentor and counselor to many young people who sought his guidance and expertise in making educational and career choices. He was a self-taught guitar player and maintained a passion for classic rock music throughout his life. Ned’s love of family was reflected in his close personal relationships with his children and their friends and with his many nieces and nephew. His deep connection with nature was manifested in his passion for the outdoors, for photography, for gardening, for bicycling, for walking trails and for spending time at his vacation home by the ocean in Rhode Island.

Relatives and friends are invited to calling hours on Tuesday, September 8, 2009 from 2 to 6 p.m. in the Miles Funeral Home, 1158 Main Street (Rte. 122A), Holden. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, October 24, 2009 at 1:30 p.m. at the Salem Cross Inn, 260 Main Street, West Brookfield, MA. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Ned Taft Scholarship in Environmental Sciences Fund and sent to UMass Amherst, Records & Gift Processing, Memorial Hall, 134 Hicks Way, Amherst, MA 01003-9270 or, to UMass Memorial Foundation, (note on subject line: Brain Tumor Research, Dr. Lyndon Kim), and sent to the Development Department, 333 South Street, Shrewsbury, MA 01545.

Website & Guestbook: www.milesfuneralhome.com