Our family's patriarch, Bob Tassi, passed with a smile at the age of 94 at the end of a long and love-filled life. Preceded in death by his loving wife, Barbara and his beautiful grandson Jake DuChene.

Loving father of Randy Tassi, Renee' DuChene, Cathy Tassi Curley, Robert Tassi Jr. , Barbara Corbett, Heidi Holdam Forte, Jackie Egerton, and April Kirton.

Friend and father-in-law of Darrin DuChene, Patrick Corbett, Tim Egerton, and Michael Kirton, and Craig Forte.

Proud grandfather of Robert Curley, Robyn Curley, Timothy Egerton, Nicole DuChene, Cassandra Corbett, Tyler Egerton, Autumn Kirton, Zachary Kirton, Karissa Kirton, and Lily Forte.

Joyful great-grandfather of Nicholas Damato, Viola Aulii Barrett, Alohi Corbett Huddy, Waikalea Mimi-Lynn Corbett Huddy, Makuaiki Kahaunaele, and Nohili Kahaunaele.

Adoring uncle to John Considine, Joe Considine, Natalie Tassi Critchley, Maryanne Birney, and a host of loving in-laws, nieces, nephews, cousins, and longtime friends.

Youngest brother to the late Louise Considine, Egidio (Ted) Tassi, Margaret Tassi Bartlett, Minnie Tassi Gourley, Turquato (Turk) Tassi, and Antonio Tassi.

THE MAN, THE MYTH, THE LEGEND

Sounds a bit much, but truly it's not! The patriarch of a large Italian family, the last son of Italian immigrants who were given the chance for a better life in this country. The last of his generation! Born on April 28, 1925, the son of Luigi and Natalia Tassi, he grew up in Detroit, Michigan. The youngest boy of 7 siblings, Bob learned to paint. Luigi Tassi, Bob's father, was a muralist and painted churches in the city of Detroit. The family basement was where Bob learned to step into a large vat to step on and crush grapes for his mom for wine. The family's kitchen table was where he and his mama would keep up the ancient tradition from the old days and make homemade pasta. His brothers were competitive boxers and he learned how to fight. This skill, he exercised probably more than we all know.
During high school, Bob was chosen to learn and work at The Henry Ford Trade School. Graduating in 1942, he was one of only 8,000 young men to have graduated from Henry Ford Trade School. There's no school in the country or the world that provided technical training that a kid got at Henry Ford Trade School. Bob would say, "What I learned at the trade school was a solid foundation for the rest of my life." He got real world experience while going to school and making money. This money helped his family endure The Great Depression. One day in 1940, Bob knew Henry Ford was in their department on the 4th floor. He put on a clean apron and pulled on his hat, and to his life's pride, Henry Ford singled him out for being head of his class in the tool and die department.
In the summer of 1944, Bob decided to fight for his country in World War II. He was 18 years old and only weighed 115 pounds. The recruiting office turned him away stating that he wasn't big enough. For the next 3 months his mom fattened him up on fresh cream, bananas, and berries. He went back to the recruiting office, weighing in at 121 pounds and joined the United States Army. He was determined to answer the nation's call to Arms. Bob was a United States Army Corporal serving in the 124th Cavalry Squadron. He trained in Fort Riley, Kansas and was sent to Burma, the last horse cavalry regiment in the army. His unit, Mars Men, of the Mars Task Force joined The Merrill's Marauder's and fought through some of the harshest jungle terrain in the world, fought in five major engagements and engaged in combat with the Japanese Army. Battling Japanese soldiers, hunger, fevers, and disease, he had traversed more jungle terrain on their long-range missions than any other U.S. Army formation during World War II. Bob was an expert sharp- shooter and received a Good Conduct Medal and Asiatic Pacific Theater Service Medal. He came home from war in 1946. His bravery and patriotism shined throughout his life. He would never tell you he was an American hero, but he was.

LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL

Bob married his beautiful bride, Barbara Hogge in Michigan and there they started a family, a very large family of 7 children. In Michigan he enjoyed hunting with the boys in Trenary, Michigan, the heart of the UP. He was known for Tassi's Uptown Bar in Detroit. In Pontiac, Bob owned the Tassi's Sandbar Restaurant and Bar. In 1972, he moved his family to Lantana, Florida where he bought a restaurant called The Sandspur and later on named Tassi's Restaurant on Dixie Highway in Lantana. Bob could usually be found in the kitchen or on the dance floor. He was the kind of man who all the kids, family, and friends would gather around and dance and enjoy life together. Bob's passions were his family and children. In Florida, Bob and his family enjoyed boating, swimming, and fishing. He was devoted and set the example of a true man!
Bob will forever be larger than life, more fun, with several curse words peppering his unique vocabulary. GO MAN GO, will forever echo in our hearts and minds.

A visitation will be held from 5pm to 8pm Thursday, January 23, 2020 at Boynton Memorial Chapel.  A Graveside Service will be held 9am Friday, January 24, 2020 (LANE 1) at the South Florida National Cemetery, Lake Worth.