Joseph T. Tanzosh

Joe was born in Allentown, PA on November 5, 1952, the 3rd child of Joseph and Elizabeth Tanzosh.  He would later move to Ohio growing up in Garfield Heights where he attended St. Monica Grammar School and St. Peter Chanel High School.  This was also the beginning of two very important things in his life, his love of his religion and his love/hate relationship with the Cleveland Indians and the Cleveland Browns.

He attended Notre Dame University and loved every moment.  He was incredibly smart, graduating with high honors and a Domer devotion, only those who experienced it will understand.  In his junior year of college, he became very ill and was later diagnosed with Crohn’s disease.   He faced a life-long health battle which he fought bravely but eventually lost.

After graduation he moved to New Jersey to be near his parents and met Joann Oddo whom he would later marry.  He became the proud father of three girls, Jo-Rene, Lucy and Eden and one boy, Rob.   The family moved to Arizona, and it was there that he found his true calling as a teacher.  He completed his teaching certification and started teaching mathematics at the high school level.  Although Joe and Joann parted ways, they remained friends.

He loved the beauty of algebra, calculus and statistics as many would agree only he could.   His students learned valuable lessons, especially that you never plug in numbers, you insert them.   He opened many eyes to a subject most students feared but some of the lucky ones learned to love.  He was voted Teacher of the Year at Desert Mountain High School, an honor that humbled him.

Ultimately, he met Robin Good and when the opportunity arose to return to South Bend and the Notre Dame promised land, they relocated.  Joe got a teaching job at Marian High School from which he retired in May 2023.  He loved the combination of teaching along with daily participation in his faith.  His last year at Marian was filled with many health issues but he persevered.  His health took a turn for the worse in August 2023, but he continued to fight the good fight until the end. 

He never met a cloudy day that wasn’t beautiful, always answered great when asked how he felt and looked forward to each minute of every single day.  He was smart, kind, funny and quirky with a dry sense of humor and a devotion to life, his religion and prime numbers.  Joe leaves his wife, Robin, with a broken heart but a far better person for having known him.

Joe is survived by his wife Robin Good, three daughters, Lucy Tanzosh of Pheonix, Arizona, Eden (AJ) Auriemma of Pheonix, Arizona, Jo-Rene (Andrew) Jones of Pheonix, Arizona, one son, Robert (Natalie) Slack of Breinigsville, Pennsylvania, six grandchildren, two sisters, Beth (Bill Santoro) Tanzosh of Clinton, New Jersey, Jane (Lou) DeNardo of Middlesex, New Jersey, one brother, James (Marlette) Tanzosh of Silver Lake, Ohio and numerous nieces and nephews. Along with his parents Joe was also preceded in death by one brother Mark Tanzosh.

A visitation for Joe will be held on Wednesday, March 20, 2024 at the Kaniewski Funeral Home, 3545 N. Bendix Dr., South Bend, IN from 4:00 pm until 8:00 pm. A rosary will be prayed at 4:00 pm. A Mass of Christian burial will be held on Thursday, March 21, 2024 at 12:00 pm at Christ the King Catholic Church, 52473 State Hwy 933, South Bend, IN. Visitation will also be held for one hour prior to the mass at Church. Inurnment will follow in Cedar Grove Cemetery. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Marian High School, 1311 S. Logan St., Mishawaka, IN  46544.  The family would like to thank Georgia Moore and Southern Care Hospice for their dedication and care of Joe.  To send online condolences, please visit www.kaniewski.com.

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