Joseph Lee Roti Roti Ph.D.

Joseph Roti Obituary

Name: Celebration of Life for Joseph Lee Roti Roti Ph.D.
Start: 2023-02-25T17:00:00.000Z
End: 2023-02-25T20:00:00.000Z
Location: Roti Roti Art Center of Buchanan

Roti Roti, Joseph Lee, PhD

Joseph Lee Roti Roti, PhD, born October 12, 1943, passed away February 18, 2023, at the age of 79. He was the beloved husband of Patricia Roti Roti (Wilhelm) and to the late Stephanie Pagano (Kestranek); dear son of the late Donald and Shirley Louise (Lemmer) Roti Roti; dear brother to Anne (Thomas) Saal, Mary (Douglas Rogers) Roti Roti, Donna (Alan) Resetar, Elizabeth (Bill) Hendrick, Jon (Marjorie) Roti Roti; beloved step-father to Meaghan (Chris) Meyer, James (Melissa) Gansmann, Lori (Dave Moreland) Gray, and Kelly (Ken Cope) Nessel; doting grandfather to Lauren (Pedro Silva) Gray, Taylor (Brook Cash) Gray, Sierra Nessel, Matthew, Patrick, and Caroline Meyer, and Joey Gansmann; dear uncle to 7 nieces and nephews and great-uncle to 16.

Joe was a passionate scientist and researcher. His accomplishments and contributions were vast. He was also an avid lover of nature, a remarkable photographer, a competitive war game enthusiast, and a 'foodie' through and through. Joe was kind, generous, quiet, thoughtful, and a beautiful soul whose mark on this world was immense. He will be deeply missed.

Services: In celebration of Joe's life, a special gathering will be held at the Roti Roti Art Center of Buchanan located at 117 W Front Street, Buchanan, MI on Saturday, 02/25/23 from 12 p.m.-3 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations to Roti Roti Art Center of Buchanan, Washington University School of Medicine, or Michigan Technological University are suggested.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by St. Louis Post-Dispatch on Feb. 21, 2023.

Memories and Condolences
for Joseph Roti

9 Entries

Nazan Turkel

October 6, 2025

Happy BD Joe, you´re not forgotten.
You´re in my prayers.

Nazan Turkel

February 15, 2025

Cennet mekanin olsun

Michael Mackey

March 5, 2023

My formal association with Joe began when I joined his lab in 1987 after finishing my doctoral studies with Professor William Dewey at the University of California at San Francisco, but he and I had become friends several years earlier, through mutual acquaintances in the Radiation Research Society and the North American Hyperthermia Group. In fact, it was through that friendship that I first became acquainted with one who would become my future wife, Dr. Fiorenza Ianzini. Joe was always very generous with his time and resources, and he gave me a lot of support over my years at the Section of Cancer Biology at the Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. Academically, I benefitted significantly from Joe´s expertise in both experimental and mathematical aspects of science, and these contributions to my career have been long-lasting. Joe also taught me many lessons about the communication of scientific ideas, and he has had a significant influence on my critical thinking in the development of new scientific ideas. Without this influence, I think it would have been hard for me to accomplish those things I call my own in my scientific career.
Along with publishing a half-dozen papers together, we also spent a lot of time together away from work. I remember many St. Louis Blues´ hockey games that Joe took me to (at his expense); similarly, we went to a few St. Louis Cardinals football games before they left for Arizona. And, of course, we went to many St. Louis Cardinals baseball games. Anyone who knew Joe well knows of his passion for strategy games, and I spent many an evening in his basement re-enacting scenes from such games. Joe was always very generous with his time both at work and away. I remember many enjoyable Cooking Contests at his house for group barbecues. Joe also helped significantly when Fiorenza and I decided to join our lives together, helping to facilitate our rather complicated international merger.
I am very sorry that he left us at such an early age. He is certainly missed.

Fiorenza Ianizini

March 5, 2023

I first met Joe in 1985 at the Annual Radiation Research meeting in Los Angeles. That meeting, and the colleagues I met there, turned out to be very instrumental for both my personal life and my scientific career. I met my future husband there and even though it took us 11 years to get married, Joe played an enormous role at the time Dr. Michael Mackey and I got married as he facilitated my joining of the Section of Cancer Biology, that he led, at the Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, trusted me with teaching assignments, and helped my transition from visiting professor to faculty member; none of these were simple tasks considering that I was coming straight from a foreign country. Joe was also very supportive of my scientific ideas and the line of scientific endowers that I brought with me from Italy that involved my husband as collaborator. This work would take us abroad to conduct high LET radiation experiments with colleagues from Italy every few months; Joe helped these trips to take place and these collaborations to endure. Joe was a smart scientist who was also socially inclusive and a kind and generous friend; we all attended many parties at his house during the years gathering for games and cooking. At home he was most happy when he could show off his collection of figurines for strategy games, many of which he built himself, and enact ancient, old, or futuristic battles. Following his whereabouts after his retirement, it was clear that he was still enjoying the outdoors and his craft very much. I am very saddened from his passing.

Nazan Turkel

February 26, 2023

I am very sorry for the flowers i sent was not delivered!!
My deepest sympathy for the family.
I have been lucky to be part of Joe´s research team for years. He has been instrumental in my stay in the U.S. and my doctoral studies. He will be missed. May he rest in peace. Nazan and Ayse

Carolyn Anderson

February 23, 2023

I have fond memories of scientific conversations with Joe, who had his opinions and wasn't shy about sharing them. He was great at poking holes in grant proposals so I could fix them before submission. The last time I ran into him was randomly while on a family vacation in Moab, UT in 2010. It as very fitting, as Joe was such an outdoor enthusiast. He was a man of many passions. My thoughts are with his family and close friends at this time.

Lisa Ridnour

February 21, 2023

I am deeply saddened to hear of Joe´s passing. I was a post-doc in the Section of Cancer Biology at Wash U from 1995-2001. I got to know Joe very well and enjoyed his company over coffee, meetings, and Section gatherings. In addition to Joes many passions, he was a sports enthusiast. Joe bought season tickets to Rams games that he shared with those of us interested in attending games. He hosted a Super Bowl Party when the Rams won in 2000. I remember one gathering at his home when he showed us an entire room in his home dedicated to his war scenario collections of wooden soldier´s which he hand painted! Joe was a man of many interests, a good person, and friend. He will be missed.

Nazan Turkel

Sent Flowers

Kathy Bles

February 21, 2023

I had the utmost pleasure of working with Joe as his assistant for close to 30 years at Washington University. He was such a loving caring individual and great mentor of many. His achievements were numerous. He will truly be missed.

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