Joseph Tasto

Joseph J. Tasto, 50, of Tucson, AZ
It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Joseph (Joe) Tasto, PhD on Saturday, April 5, 2025. Born on September 30, 1974 in Minnesota, Joe was gregarious and thoughtful in his roles as husband, father, brother, son and friend.
Marrying his college sweetheart, Erin Beckers, the young couple started married life after graduating together from partnership schools - St. John's University and the College of Saint Benedict. Erin's warm, personable nature was the perfect complement to Joe's rational and logical approach to nearly everything.
He was endlessly proud of their daughters, Lauren and Morgan. Joe cherished their outdoor adventures, poolside fun, and evenings around the fire making s'mores. He held the highest hopes for his girls-to grow into strong, smart, and independent women-and deeply admired their support for one another and for their mother.
Joe valued lifelong learning and earned his PhD in Cellular and Molecular Biology, as well as an MBA from Vanderbilt University. At PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), he worked on a variety of projects with major biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and healthcare companies. Joe then joined Roche Diagnostics where he was valued as a strategic thinker, a gifted storyteller, and someone who brought genuine curiosity and creativity to every conversation. He was endlessly driven by a love of learning and a desire to explore new ideas, technologies, and possibilities. What motivated him most was the chance to "expand the pie"-to build understanding, create new opportunities, and share what he discovered with others. At Roche, he was respected and sought out not just for his insight, but for his kindness, humor, and generosity of spirit.
His passion for learning matched that for sports and occasional mischief. A fierce competitor, he won the family golf tournament-affectionately known as "The Major"- fourteen (!) times since its start in 2003. As an extrovert with strong convictions, Joe was always ready to share his advice and opinions. The eldest of five brothers, he relished his role as the leader of the pack-despite eventually being physically outmatched by his younger siblings, though never outshined in spirit.
He leaves behind a wide circle of friends, who shared in his love for a good round of golf, a fine glass of wine, and meaningful conversation. Joe embraced life with energy and joy, and made sure to bring others along for the ride.
Joe is survived by his wife Erin Tasto (née Beckers) and their two daughters, Lauren and Morgan, as well as his parents, Jerry Tasto and Colleen Hokenson (Glenn), his brothers, David (Urszula), Tom (Jenna), Mike (Sharmeelee), and John (Leslie), and many nieces, nephews, and extended family members.
The family will hold a Celebration of Life on June 1, 2025 from 3PM-5:30PM, at Omni Tucson National Resort (Papago Room & Terrace, 2727 W Club Dr., Tucson, AZ 85742) - please contact Holly Nowak at hollymnowak@yahoo.com for more information. All who knew and loved Joe are welcome to attend and celebrate his life. Also, a special golf fundraising event will be held earlier on June 1, 2025 at Omni Tucson National Golf Course – please contact Andres Ramos at 520-877-2302 or Andres.Ramos@Omnihotels.com for more information.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations to support Lauren's and Morgan's educational needs (https://www.gofundme.com/f/joe-tasto).
Joe made people laugh and think, and his absence will be felt deeply by all of us who had the joy of knowing him. His larger-than-life persona will be dearly missed, but long remembered.