Joe was born Thursday, August 20, 1931 in Dansville, a son of the late Frank and Mary (Jacubus) Zaso.
Joe loved Batavia and was the department head for the lab at Genesee Memorial Hospital in Batavia. He was a member of Resurrection Parish, past president of the Friends of the Library (Richmond Memorial), lifetime member and past president of the Batavia Lions Club and served on the Batavia School Board. He was an advocate and involved with fundraising for the Children's Home in Batavia. Joe played baseball and basketball at Batavia High School and was a life-long Buffalo Bills fan. His family and friends will always remember him for his travel adventures with Jean, volunteering at the annual St. Joseph's Lawn Fete, getting together with the guys for coffee at the Miss Batavia Diner, keeping up with the news, and playing poker with his Batavia buddies.
A loving husband, father, and grandfather, Joe is survived by his wife, Jean Zaso of Batavia; children, Joseph (Donna) Zaso of Ohio, James (Cathy) Zaso of Batavia, Janet (Louis) Belardi of South Salem, Julie (James) Pantas of North Carolina and Joan (Scott) Gilbert of Arizona; brother-in-law, Paul Toal of Batavia, 12 grandchildren, one great-grandchild and many nieces and nephews.
Preceded in death by a sister, Esther Toal.
Due to COVID-19, Joe's services will be held privately with his wife and children. A celebration of his life will be scheduled in the future for extended family and friends. As a knowledgeable microbiologist, familiar with virus transmission, Joe would have been at the forefront of asking everyone to wear a mask.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Richmond Memorial Library, 19 Ross Street, Batavia, NY 14020.
Please leave a condolence, share a story, or light a candle at www.bataviafuneralhomes.com.
Arrangements for Joe were entrusted to the Bohm-Calarco-Smith Funeral Home, 308 East Main Street, Batavia, (585) 343-5673.
