John "Gio" Enso Tomasini

John “Gio” Enso Tomasini passed away on Thursday, the 26th of October 2023. He was 75 years of age. A loving husband, father, friend, and self-made entrepreneur with a magnetic personality. Gio was born on the 1st of October 1948 in Daytona Beach, Florida to Joseph and Virginia Tomasini. Gio spent his early years at home with his parents; brother, Robert; and sister, Marie. Born into a strong Italian family, Sunday night family dinners were a weekly affair, featuring their treasured family dish of Pearà and Risotto—which is, to this day, a continued and cherished family tradition.

Gio attended Stetson University where he played collegiate baseball, serving as a catcher, and continued playing after college for the Miami Marlins. Gio started his professional career working at Disney World, where he helped manage its opening, and where he would eventually meet his wife, Lynn.

Following Disney, he worked with the Professional Golfers Association (PGA) Tour in Florida for Dunlop Sports, who quickly transferred him to Houston to serve as Regional Marketing Manager. Prior to his transfer and move to Houston, Gio and Marguerite “Lynn” McRay were married on the 1st of April 1978, in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. Following his tenure with Dunlop, he handled logistics for the Rolling Stones' 1982 World Tour and served as Vice President of Marketing for Global Services. His innovative strategies played an important role in establishing Global Services as Houston's largest office solutions firm. In 1999, he Founded Tomasini-Pogge, serving as CEO—working with organizations such as Global Services, Blue Lance, Stewart & Stevenson, Dovarri, and Houston Can! Academy. Gio executed some of Houston's highest-profile events. A few of these included the selection, announcement, and unveiling of the Houston Texans' name, logo, and uniforms; groundbreakings for Reliant Stadium and the Metro Light Rail; and Stewart & Stevenson's 100th year celebration campaign. He served as Director of ThinAir Wireless Corporation, Inc., Director of the Greater Houston Partnership, and CEO of Tomasini W2K. He was a pro bono contributor of his expertise and/or Board Membership to Junior Achievement, the PGA Tour, the Houston Shell Open, Child Advocates, the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo, the Hunting Art Prize, Sire Equine Therapy, Opportunity Houston, the Houston Racing Association, the Houston Ballet, and Houston Can! Academy; and Board Member Emeritus for the Texas Bowl. He founded the Sales & Marketing Roundtables for the Greater Houston Partnership as well as served as Chairman of the Economic Development Committee. He was also vital in the creation and promotion of the ITEC Technology Show and Evanta CIO Summit in Houston.

Gio was a self-made man and one of the region's most sought-after communications professionals and leading entrepreneurs. He was considered one of the most well-connected and well-respected people in all of Houston. Always connecting his “dots”. Gio leaves behind a rich and beautiful legacy and an imprint on so many parts of Houston.

Gio was an avid golfer, he enjoyed competitively shooting shotguns with his sons, and had an incredible sense of humor and wit. Gio was incredibly charming and had a way of relating to anyone and everyone; he could always find the "dot" that connected them. If you walked into a room not knowing Gio, you could be guaranteed that when you left, you’d leave as the best of friends or at the very least, leave with a good story or joke to pay forward. Gio leaves behind a beautiful legacy of his love for his family and his countless friends and his magnetic personality.

Gio was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph and Virginia Tomasini; his sister, Marie Furiato and his brother, Robert Tomasini. He is survived by his beloved wife of 45 years, Marguerite “Lynn” McRay Tomasini; his son Taylor Tomasini and wife Kathryn and their children W. Wells and C. Davis; and his son Chandler Tomasini all of Houston.

A celebration of Gio’s life is to be conducted at two o’clock in the afternoon on Saturday, the 11th of November in the Jasek Chapel of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston. As Gio was an avid golfer and life of the party, those attending are asked to wear their favorite golf attire.

Immediately following, all are invited to greet the family during a reception in the adjacent grand foyer.

In lieu of customary remembrances, the family requests with gratitude that memorial contributions in Gio’s honor be directed to the William R Minor Foundation (in memory of Gio Tomasini), a 501(c)(3) non-profit public charity, 3426 Onion Creek, Sugar Land, Texas 77479.