Who is Joe Tait's wife Jean? How 'Voice of the Cleveland Cavaliers' became her caretaker before he died at 83
Joe Tait, legendary basketball commentator and sports broadcaster, died on March 10 at the age of 83. He was reportedly suffering from prolonged kidney disease and liver cancer. Mourning the loss of the "Voice of the Cleveland Cavaliers", the Cavs said in a statement that he will be "dearly missed."
"A friend and mentor to many over the years, Joe Tait wasn't just a member of the Cavaliers family; he was a part of the Cavs story like no one else and his voice and unique, candid perspective reverberates throughout the team's history," the team said remembering his contribution to basketball.
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Although he continued to be part of different projects after his retirement, including the weekly podcast 'Over the Timeline' from 2019, he was suffering from serious health complications. Similarly, his wife Jean had to fight her own battle and Joe became her caretaker.
Who is Joe Tait's wife?
Joe married his first wife Edith in 1963, with whom he had three children — Christina, Karen and a son called Joe. He married his second wife Jean in 1983. The duo resided in Lafayette Township, Ohio, according to reports.
The last few years had been hard on the couple. Talking about his health, Joe said in an interview with Cleveland.com, "My kidneys are failing. I have a serious blood clot in my leg. I’ve had a cancerous tumor on my liver for at least four years."
He added, “I’ve been through a lot. In 2011, I had an aortic valve replacement. They put in a cow valve ... it keeps telling me ‘eat more chicken’." Expressing his gratitude for the life he lived, he said, "I’ve had a long run."
Jean is placed in an extended-care facility
One of the most touching aspects of Joe and Jean's relationship is how they were by each other's side through sickness. Jean was reportedly diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 2006 and her condition turned serious in a few years. By 2010, Joe became her caretaker, which he described as "the hardest job I ever had."
If reports are to be believed, Jean was put into an extended-care facility in 2014. Joe tried to visit her every day apparently until the Covid-19 lockdown tampered his visits. Reports reveal that he tried talking to her on the phone, but she wouldn't know who was on the line.
Joe served as Cavaliers' radio announcer from its inception in 1970 until 2011. He only missed two seasons in the start and the final one due to his illness. He won the Basketball Hall of Fame Curt Gowdy Media Award in 2010.
Joe is also the recipient of numerous awards, including NSSA Ohio Sportscaster of the Year, Indiana Broadcasters Hall of Fame Inductee, Cavaliers Wall of Honor and 2012 OAC Bill Nichols Media Award.