Renato Tassera

Renato Tassera was born on February 15, 1937 in a small town in Orta San Giulio Province of Novara in the Italian Alps region of Northern Italy, and passed away on Monday, December 31, 2018. He was the middle child to Giovanni Tassera and Carmen Guarnori Tassera.

His inspiration for culinary arts was influenced by an uncle who travelled the world as a chef. He trained in Stresa, Rome, France, Geneva, Switzerland, and London perfecting his craft as well as learning French and English. While in London at the Imperial Ballroom he met a beautiful Serbo-Croatian student who later became his wife and mother of his two daughters.

As he perfected his trade, he took an opportunity to take a chef position in Dallas, TX. After the birth of his two children he took yet another adventure and moved his family back to Orta San Giulio to open a hotel/banquet center with his brother. Two years later he returned to the United States in St. Louis, MO to open his own Northern Italian Cuisine Restaurant called Renato’s and then worked at several retirement communities. He loved cooking for others, hiking, biking, nature, and watching wrestling, soccer, and history shows.

He was most proud of his family and his grandchildren were the light of his life. Renato Tassera is preceded in death by his parents, and his sister Gisella Magistrelli. He is survived by his ex-wife Branka; his daughters Linda (Robert) and Elena (Chad); his four grand-daughters, Daniella, Sophia, Juliette, and Julianna; his brother Mario (Anne); as well as many other family members in Italy. He will be dearly missed by all whose lives he touched.

Memorial contributions may be made in Renato's name to the National Pancreatic Cancer Foundation.