Elmer Arthur Tag

1927 - 2015

HAMPTON - Elmer Arthur Tag, 87, died suddenly at home on Tuesday, May 19, 2015.
Born on Oct. 16, 1927, in Roselle, Mr. Tag was raised in Newark and graduated from Arts High School, specializing in fine arts and theater design. He lived in Belleville and Bloomfield before moving to the Paulinskill Lake section of Hampton in 1964.
Mr. Tag enlisted in the U.S. Army, serving in Japan from 1946 to 1948 in the 1st Cavalry Division, 1st Signal Corps, assigned to GHQ Special Service Show Productions and toured with USO Camp Shows in the Far East. After the service, he attended Yale University School of Drama, qualified as a member of the United Scenic Artists Union as an "all-class-member" and was hired by the NBC in 1950. He worked as a scenic designer and art director for television until his retirement in 1990, including creating scenery from the "Howdy Doody Show" to "Saturday Night Live" and hundreds of shows in between.
In 1972 and 1974, Mr. Tag received a National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences EMMY for "Outstanding Achievement in Daytime Drama."
In 1976 Mr. Tag, along with his wife, Jean, began a business called "Originals by Tag" which produced miniatures in one-inch scale and specializing in replicas of historic and nostalgic pieces, including room settings and buildings of architectural and historic significance. He served on the board of The International Guild of Miniature Artisans for seven years. His work in the field of miniatures earned him recognition nationwide and in 1981 he was awarded the status of "Fellow" in the International Guild of Miniature Artisans.
Mr. Tag served as a trustee and committee member on the Sussex County Arts and Heritage Council from 1966 to 1988. He was a very active member and a trustee of the Hampton Township Senior Citizen Club since 2001 and a trustee of the Hampton Township Historical Society. Mr. Tag served on the Hampton Municipal County Republican Committee for many years. He was also a trustee and past president of the Paulinskill Lake Association.
Mr. Tag was an elder in the Presbyterian Church for 55 years and an active member of the Yellow Frame Presbyterian Church since 1964. In 2005, he was named Church Historian by the Yellow Frame Church Society and was instrumental in acquiring the historical marker installed by the Susssx County Board of Chosen Freeholders' Historic Committee. Most recently, he worked with the Memorial Committee on the design and reconstruction of the church's main entrance and the stained glass window.
The son of the late Elmer T. Tag and Francis Brandt Tag, Mr. Tag is survived by his wife, of 64 years, and childhood sweetheart, Jean Mersfelder Tag. He is also survived by a son, Peter Tag, and wife, Sandra, of Eugene, Ore.; two daughters, Barbara Santos, of Newton, and Beverly Guilfoyle and husband, Glenn, of Van Hornesville, N.Y.; seven grandchildren: Aaron Tag and wife of Minneapolis, Max Tag of Eugene Ore,. Jennifer Santos Rogers and husband of Jefferson, Pa, Jason Santos of Newton, Lindsey Guilfoyle and husband of Jacksonville, Fla., Morgan Guilfoyle Jordan and husband of Albany, N.Y., and Jacob Guilfoyle of Van Hornesville, N.Y, and five great-grandchildren. Mr. Tag is survived by his sister, Patricia Tag Wright. of Cedar Run, brother-in-law, Robert Mersfelder and wife, Sylvia, several nieces, nephews, and great-nieces and nephews.
A Celebration of Life service will be held at The Yellow Frame Presbyterian Church, Route 94 in Fredon on Saturday, June 6, at 11 a.m., with visitation with the family from 10-11 a.m..
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to the Yellow Frame Church Historic Preservation Fund, 1 Yellow Frame Road, Newton, N.J. 07860.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Smith-McCracken Funeral Home, 63 High St., Newton. Online condolences may be offered at www.smithmccrackenfuneralhome.com.