Dr. Hiroshi Tada
Dr. Hiroshi Tada passed away on February 19, 2021 at the age of 81. He was one of five children of Kiyoshi and Masako Tada of Tokyo, Japan. He obtained his undergraduate degree at the University of Tokyo and his PhD in mechanical engineering from Lehigh University in Pennsylvania. He co-authored a textbook in the area of fracture mechanics and taught for many years as an affiliate professor at Washington University in St. Louis.
In his later years, he found joy performing a traditional type of Japanese top-spinning (koma-mawashi) that he used to practice as a child in Japan. He became a well-known performer at festivals and museums throughout the area. (Several years ago, he was proud to be profiled for these performances in St. Louis Magazine: What its like to be a Top Spinner.) It gave him great happiness to be able to share with others a pastime that he had loved as a child.
Hiroshi loved baseball (both playing and watching) and enjoyed spending time outdoors. An engineer to the core, he loved investigating or explaining the physics behind any phenomenon he found interesting – from the geometric shapes that a heavy snowfall would form on outdoor furniture to the apparent magic that allows a spinning wooden top to coast along a single string.
Hiroshi is survived by four children (Mariko, Yuriko, Takashi, and Hitoshi Tada) from his marriage to Hiroko Nakai, and three granddaughters (Hana Prokop, Violet Hall, and Livia Tada). He is also survived by his older brother Masashi, of Yokohama, Japan; and his sister Fujiko, of Tokyo, Japan.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Japanese Festival at the Missouri Botanical Gardens, where Hiroshi performed every year. Commemorative gifts can be made in any of the following ways:
- Clicking Here
- by calling the Garden directly at 314-577-0805, or
- by mailing a check to: Missouri Botanical Garden, ATTN: Institutional Advancement, 434 Shaw Boulevard, St. Louis, MO 63110
If possible, please include “for the Japanese Festival, in memory of Dr. Hiroshi Tada” in the comments.
Takashi and Family,
The Groton Planning Board is sorry to learn of the passing of your father, Dr. Hiroshi Tada. Our thoughts are with you and your family during this time of loss.
On behalf of the Groton Planning Board
So sorry for your loss. We enjoyed seeing your Father’s performance several times at the Mo. Botanical Gardens. He will be missed. Prayers to his Family.
So sorry for your loss.
I am a student, coming from China, learning fracture mechanics. Thanks for all work he did.
I’m so sorry for your loss. I always enjoyed seeing him perform his top spinning tricks all around Saint Louis… ever since I was a kid. Sending lots of love.
Thank you, Mr.Tada, for your years of performing top spinning. It was always a pleasure and delight to watch you perform. Thank you for spreading your joy to all of us.
To the children of Dr. Tada, please accept my condolences. We had the pleasure of publishing your father’s book on fracture mechanics in the early 2000s. It remains a classic textbook to this day. Please contact me at ASME in NY when you get a chance. Thank you.
He was a magician!