Joseph Anthony Piasta II

1951 - 2024

Colonel Joseph Anthony Piasta II, United States Army, Retired
July 11, 1951 - July 19, 2024
Colonel Joseph Anthony Piasta II, Retired, passed away in his Santa Rosa home on July 19, 2024, surrounded by his children, at the age of 73, following a harrowing and heroically fought battle against cancer.
Joe was a man of deep faith and service, a patriot, recognized trial attorney, adjunct law professor, community advocate, author, scholar, mentor, friend, brother, loving husband, father, and grandfather. The son of World War II veteran Edward Piasta and nurse Bette Piasta, Joe was born on July 11,1951 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He was the oldest of six children - John, Mary, Fran, Karen, and Polly. The family moved to Orange, California, where Joe excelled academically and graduated from Servite High School. As a young man, Joe's parents taught him the importance of faith, service, family, and friends - lessons that he applied throughout his life.
Joe was the first in his family to attend college, enrolling in the University of San Francisco where he served as student-body president, a United States Army ROTC cadet, a collegiate football athlete. He graduated with honors from both college and law school. At USF, Joe met and fell in love with his future wife and native San Franciscan, Kathy Portman. Joe later received a Masters of Law summa cum laude from George Washington University.
Joe and Kathy married in 1976 and moved to Fort Belvoir, Virginia where Joe served on active duty in the Judge Advocate General Corps (JAG), developing into one of the fiercest courts-martial advocates in the US Army.
In 1981, Joe left active duty and moved the Piasta Family to Sonoma County where he continued to dedicate the rest of his life to faith, family, and service. There, Joe began his career in private practice of 40-years, including 25-years as adjunct professor at USF Law School. Joe built a reputation of professionalism, integrity and excellence across the local legal community. He is the recipient of several recognitions, including membership in the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA).
Following active duty, Joe served in the US Army Reserve for 30-years. He mobilized to active duty in 2003 for 9-months in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, where he served as the Staff Judge Advocate for the 91st Training Division. Joe took great pride in training, mentoring, and inspiring the next generation of military officers, including three of his children who served in Iraq and Afghanistan and each received Bronze Star Medals. For Joe's exemplary service, he received several recognitions including the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, and Army Commendation Medal (with two oak leaf clusters).
Joe was very active in the church community; he loved and cherished the relationships he developed at Holy Spirit Catholic Church and St. Eugene's Cathedral. In 2019, the Holy Spirit Men's Club awarded him Man of the Year.
Above all else, Joe was a devoted husband to his wife Kathy, a loving and ecstatically proud father of his seven children - Mary, Edward, Ann, Theresa, Frank, Joan, and John - and his nine grandchildren - Robert, Constantine, William, Joseph, Colin, Violette, Elizabeth, John and Everett. When he was not working, Joe could be found at one of their many baseball, soccer, basketball, cycling, piano recitals, or other events cheering on his family. He mentored each of his children and made each of them feel like an only child. Joe is an inspiration for his grandchildren who witnessed him fight with bravery and dignity over the last few years.
Friends are invited to attend an Evening Vigil Service on Friday, July 26, 2024 at 7:00 pm, at the Daniels Chapel of the Roses, 1225 Sonoma Avenue, Santa Rosa. The Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, July 27, 2024 at 1:00 pm at Holy Spirit Catholic Church, 1244 St. Francis Road, Santa Rosa. Private Interment, Calvary Catholic Cemetery, Santa Rosa.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to an endowed scholarship established in Joe's honor at Cardinal Newman High School. The scholarship is designed to provide financial support to deserving applicants in perpetuity. Donations in Joe's memory may be made online at https://www.cardinalnewman.org/make-a-gift2 or via check to Cardinal Newman High School, 4320 Old Redwood High School, Santa Rosa, California 95403. If you wish to make a donation to the scholarship fund, please indicate in the notes or on the check for the donation that it is made in Joe's memory.