Thomas Nasta

Nasta—Thomas Nasta, 85, on July 22, 2024, peacefully in his sleep, after a courageous battle with long-term complications from COVID-19 in Salem, Va. Tom was born on January 21, 1939, the eldest of five boys in a lively Italian-Irish household in Brooklyn, N.Y.

Tom’s compassion and inclusive nature were evident from a young age. After serving in the U.S. Army Reserve and traveling through Europe, Tom returned home to propose to his beloved “doll face,” Joan, who became his devoted wife and partner for 61 wonderful years. Family life flourished with the arrival of five children in rapid succession.

Boldly casting his fate to the wind, Tom left Long Island, N.Y., with his family in 1972 and moved to Roanoke, Va. He began his career as a life insurance salesman. As his approach to finance evolved, Tom founded his business, Personal Financial Planning, which continues to thrive 40 years later. His financial expertise and personal touch enriched the lives of countless clients, many of whom became lifelong friends.

Beyond his professional endeavors, Tom dedicated himself to community service, actively supporting Our Lady of Nazareth Church, aiding refugee families resettling in Roanoke, fostering a child, and cofounding the Plowshare Peace Center. Tom’s diverse interests also included pottery, reading, cinema, and cherished moments with his family and friends.

Tom found his way to the Religious Society of Friends around 1990, drawn by its unique blending of contemplation with passion for peace and social justice. Tom was a fixture in his meeting community until his passing 34 years later. His invaluable participation in committee work—Stewardship and Finance as well as Peace and Social Justice—was part of it. He shared his considerable gifts in financial planning as the meeting’s treasurer for a number of years and was helpful to many individual Friends with his financial advice.

Then there are the intangibles, such as his deep kindness, his nimbleness of mind, and a quirkiness of spirit that made one not only laugh but feel warm all over. Tom was able to find nuggets of wisdom and gain deep spiritual insight in the most ordinary, unexpected, and often overlooked places. He shared these insights with a gentle whimsy and humor that evoked laughter and inspired Friends to look more closely for the spiritual gifts of which he was so abundantly aware.

As deeply involved as he was for so many years and in so many ways with the meeting, Tom never felt led to formally request membership until he was nearing his end. It is easy to imagine him quipping, “I didn’t want to rush into it.” The full embrace of the meeting’s acceptance was perhaps a comfort to him at the end of his long and exceedingly fruitful journey. Perhaps it helped him feel he had come full circle.

Throughout his life, Tom embodied the spirit of a resilient “street fighter,” confronting life’s challenges with selfless strength, toughness, and a contagious sense of humor. He approached each of his final days with the same gentle spirit he carried throughout his life, offering wisdom and brightening spirits with his insights and quick wit.

Tom is survived by his wife, Joan Nasta; five children, Bart Nasta (Tissa), Katherine Douville, Amy Nasta, Nora Ford (Robert), and Matthew Nasta; six grandchildren; and one brother, Steve Nasta.