I was one of Jim's last hires in Cornell's IPM program. He took a chance on a wildlife biologist in a field largely peopled from other academic disciplines. Jim's skills and foresight resulted in a great team that was a pleasure to be a part of.

Kudos to a great life and a great family. We shared good times and thoughtful discussions at our small Christian community group. May God bless all. We wish he could now communicate with our group and and answer all those questions we had about Heaven. We love you Jim.

God grant rest and peace to Dr. Tette. I was fortunate to have worked with his IPM group for a time (a brief time) in the late '80s. Jim Tette was always a kind, friendly, happy soul to those of us who worked there, regardless of where we fit in the team. It was a pleasure to cross paths with such a good man, even if for only a short season.

Phil McInnis

Sharan and Tette family,

First, I apologize for writing this electronically, but it is much easier for me and my thoughts are just as sincere as if I were writing you folks in person!!

Jim was both a close friend and work colleague for many years, and I started my career working with him. Unfortunately, some of our colleagues both at Cornell and in the fruit industry, had a hard time accepting the IPM (Integrated Pest Management) philosophy. Although some people didn’t accept Jim’s IPM philosophy, everyone admired his outgoing personality, wry sense of humor and his hard work and dedication to his job.

Jim and I fought many battles together over the years to promote IPM and I always had his back and tried to protect his from his detractors. In return, Jim and his program identified many research opportunities and research sites in apple orchards for me, and generally made my work and life as a young, sometimes struggling professor much easier and more pleasant. Jim was an early pioneer and leader in his field, and although the entire group of Apple growers throughout the US and abroad haven’t formally completely adopted IPM, many have and he has left an enduring legacy. Currently, the principles of IPM are still being updated, modified, and promoted, and the work will go on for a long time in the future.

I miss Jim as a colleague and a friend, but I am happy I was able to work with him during most of his career earlier career as an IPM promoter and later as an administrator.

In closing, I would have liked to personally celebrate his life and interact with the family but my wife Nancy and I no longer live in NY. We have moved to Virginia and spend summers there and winters in FL. This allows us to be closer to our children and grand children.

Sincerely sorry for your loss,

Harvey Reissig

Dear Sharan, Mark, Monica, Ken, Matthew and Carrie and family,

My sincere condolences to your family. I met you all at St. Michaels in church and often admired the way you all attended together in unity. I got to know Sharan and Jim when they invited Tim and me to have dinner out one evening. He was such an accomplished gentleman. We had fun talking about Cornell which is near and dear to my family too. He was such an important member in the community. Please know that he is in my prayers as is your whole family.

Sally Acomb

God Bless our Aquinas Brother.

I'm so sorry to learn of Jim's passing. He hired me into the IPM Program and my dream job in 1985 where I stayed until retirement in 2014. He encouraged and inspired me to pursue every idea that I had to develop new IPM practices and find ways to get them adopted. As the founder and first employee of the New York State IPM Program in the early 1970's, he built it into one of the most respected IPM Programs in the US and the world. His impact on the Cornell College of Agriculture and Cornell Cooperative Extension was immeasurable- although he certainly would have wanted it documented, measured, and reported. He brought good humor to our group of IPMers and somehow got our group of 20+ people with diverse personalities and areas of interest to mesh into a team that accomplished great things. He was my mentor and my inspiration throughout my career. He had a passion to keep moving forward no matter the obstacle and he treated all of his colleagues with kindness and respect. Thank you, Jim.

Curt Petzoldt

Matt, Carrie, and kids, I am so sorry to hear this news. I know how much he meant to you. God bless you all. Boots

Jim was an amazing man. He was my boss at IPM. I truly admired his strength an values. We didn't always see eye to eye, but we got through. My prayers and condolences to the Tette family. RIP Jim.

So very sorry.

He was my favorite uncle always taking time with us younger kids at family picnics, memories I’ll always cherish. He will be missed.

Hugs Kathi Bailey (Bernard)