ONEONTA - Joseph Criscenzo Tausta, 86, passed away peacefully July 30, 2024 at Cooperstown Center.

Joseph was born June 2, 1938 in New Haven, Connecticut to Joseph F. and Alice (Como) Tausta. He grew up in South River, New Jersey where he was a star athlete competing in football and track, an honor student, president of his class, and trombonist in several bands. He was honored to be added to the South River Wall of Fame.

Joe received a bachelor's in chemistry from Dartmouth College, a masters in chemistry from Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio, a Certificate of Advanced Study from Wesleyan University, Middletown, Connecticut, and a PhD in organic chemistry from UMass Amherst.

After serving as a lieutenant in the United States Army 4th division Chemical Corps, he found his passion in teaching. Joe taught at Cheshire Academy and Suffield Academy where he coached, founded a radio station, and received teaching awards. Joe was hired as the head of the science department North Country Union High School in Vermont where he received the Vermont Science Teacher of the Year Award for his work implementing Advance Placement classes, an oceanography experience, bringing students to state science fairs, among other things. Chosen for excellence in teaching, he was the chemistry teacher for the prestigious Admiral Rickover Foundation. He also taught at Johnson State College and retired from SUNY Oneonta where his classes were extremely popular and where he won the Chancellor's Award.

Joseph was a brilliant man who was an avid reader, enjoyed history, railroads, and utilized his chemistry knowledge to ameliorate acid rain effects in the Adirondacks, which he loved. Always active, he was before his time jogging and commuting by bike. In Vermont, he added cross country skiing to his interests. He continued to play trombone in bands and for musical productions.

Joseph cared deeply for his students, his friends, and especially his family. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Pamela Fitch Tausta; daughter, Susan "Lori" Tausta and her husband, John E. Ertle, their children, Sarah and Joseph Ertle; daughter, Elizabeth "Beth" Lindquist; sister, Diane Mozzo and her husband, Martin Mozzo, their daughter, Allison Zambon, her husband, Robert Zambon and their children, Lucas and Matthew.

A regular communicant at St. Mary's Catholic Church, he was an active volunteer and a member of the Knights of Columbus. A funeral Mass will be held 11 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 21 at St. Mary's Church, 39 Walnut St., Oneonta, with the Reverend Christopher Welch celebrant. Interment with military honors will follow in Mount Calvary Cemetery, Oneonta.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Al J. Read Discovery Center at SUNY Oneonta or the Leatherstocking Railroad Historical Society, P.O. Box 681, Oneonta, NY, 13820.

Condolences may be made to the family at www.lhpfuneralhome.com. Arrangements by Lewis, Hurley & Pietrobono Funeral Home, 51 Dietz St., Oneonta.