Dayton's Merchandiser Stirratt Passes Away

By Staff -- Home Textiles Today, 3/10/2008 12:00:00 AM

Bloomington, Minn. —

Memorial services were held here for James Stirratt, 63, who died Feb. 22 after battling osteosarcoma.

Stirratt spent 26 years at Dayton's Department Stores here, beginning as a trainee and rising to evp of home furnishings, where he influenced the home market with leadership in quality direction and merchandising acumen. He later joined Williams-Sonoma in San Francisco as evp. When he left Williams-Sonoma, he led a joint venture with the Mayo Clinic on a highly successful cookbook.

"I worked for him for 10 years, and in my entire career he was a most supportive person as well as being a risk taker," noted Joel Kaplan, now a consultant but previously director of trend merchandising for Dayton's. "He built the home business, was always looking for the 'next' direction, and moved people along. He was a caring person and an entrepreneur."

Stirratt is survived by his wife of 41 years, Arlene, four sons, four grandchildren, his mother and a brother.

Memorials may be sent to the Mayo Clinic cancer research program, The Nature Conservancy or the North Shore Health Care Foundation.