Arthur James Tufts died on June 4, 2006 at his home in Hightstown, NJ. He was 92 years old. Mr. Tufts, originally from Washington DC, graduated from Oberlin College in 1934. In Washington, he worked for Capital Transit, a job that prevented him from serving during WWII, something he regretted. He also worked for Burroughs Adding Machine Co., the Bureau of the Census and taught office management at Southeastern University.

In 1952 he moved to Great Neck and worked for LOMA - Life Office Management Association in NYC. He was recognized for his central role in the development of pre-authorized checks for life insurance premium payments. He was written up in The New York Times in 1956 for his advocacy, on behalf of insurance companies and their clients, to have the banking industry accept this program. As LOMA VP for Customer Services, he participated in creating important industry publications including Opportunities for Service: Action Proposal and A Guide to Writing Understandable Life Insurance Policies and he worked successfully for industry-wide adoption of a Standard Change of Beneficiary Form. Always an advocate for public education, he was PTA president in Great Neck in the 1960s.

Upon retirement in 1978 he became very active in community activities. He was president of Friends of Channel 21, WLIW Public Television, was active in the Civic Association and Beautification Committee of East Norwich, where he lived for many years. He taught safe driving in the 55 Alive program and was an AARP counselor helping members with their taxes. He was an active member of the Long Island chapter of the Archaeological Institute of America and a member of the University Club of Long Island.

After the death of his wife of 58 years, Gladys Tufts, he moved to a retirement community in Hightstown, where he once again became active in many organizations. He chaired the volunteer organization to visit the sick and frail, participated in theatre productions, and led the singing group.

He and Gladys traveled extensively in areas unfamiliar to most Americans such as Mongolia, Siberia, and the USSR in the '60s, China in the early '80s, South Africa - descending the deep level gold mines in 1972, and many other areas of South and Central America.

He is survived by his three daughters, Adrienne Tufts, Carolyn Shurman, and Alyson Ben-David; five grandchildren and eight great- grandchildren. A memorial gathering was held June 11 at Meadow Lakes Presbyterian Home, Hightstown.