Joseph L. Tessandori

Joseph L. Tessandori 65, of Owensboro, passed away Thursday, September 6, 2012 at his home. Joe was born in Danbury, Connecticut, the only child of the late Andrew and Mary Jen Zitnic Tessandori. While a child his family moved to Texas, to the small town of Anthony, and while he was still young to El Paso, where he met his future wife. He entered what was then Texas Western University which became University of Texas El Paso and from which he graduated with a B.S. in metallurgical engineering. Joe was particularly proud of a basketball game which Texas Western won while he was a freshman against a well known team from Kentucky. At the University of Texas El Paso he was named to Top Ten Seniors and for membership in Tau Beta Pi, the honorary society of engineers.

His career, which started in Taylor, TX with Alcoa, and ultimately took him around the world, brought him to Owensboro in 1971 to join National Aluminum, which became Martin Marietta, then Commonwealth Aluminum and today Aleris. National Aluminum was issued two patents as a result of his work with them. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by an infant son, Patrick Joseph Tessandori.

Joe was a member of The Immaculate Catholic Church and St. Vincent DePaul. Strongly committed to his family, he was active in youth soccer and hockey, having served Owensboro Youth Hockey as equipment manager, scheduler, and president.

Mr. Tessandori is survived by his wife of 40 years, JoAnn Stinnett Tessandori; his children, Beth (Clint) Netherland of College Station, TX, Andrew Joseph (Sharon) Tessandori of Nicholasville, KY, and John Ryan Tessandori of Oklahoma City, OK; his grandchildren, Joseph Luke Netherland , Jacob Ryan Netherland, and one on the way for Andy and Sharon; and his brothers and sisters-in-law John (Judy) Stinnett, Bobby (Marcy) Stinnett, Ruth (Mike) Waits, Helen (Mike) Bowden, and Mary Rita (Kevin) Wade.

The funeral mass for Mr. Tessandori, officiated by the Rev. Tony Jones, will be at 10:00 a.m. Monday at the Immaculate Catholic Church. Visitation will be from 4:00 until 6:00 p.m. Sunday and from 8:30 until 9:30 Monday at Glenn Funeral Home and Crematory, where the Rosary will be said at 6:00 p.m. Sunday. Burial will be in Resurrection Cemetery. Expressions of sympathy may take the form of contributions to Owensboro Youth Hockey. Messages of condolence may be placed at www.glennfuneralhome.com.