We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful John Tarantino. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with John below.
John, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Do you have a hero? What have you learned from them?
My hero is actually someone younger than I am. Her name is Nicole Benjamin. I was once her mentor. But when my wife was diagnosed with Stage 4 pancreatic cancer, and I had to leave work as an attorney to be my wife’s full-time caregiver, my colleague, Nicole, stepped up and took over my entire national legal practice, serviced all my clients, handled all her own cases as well and didn’t miss a beat. She worked 7 days a week for months to make sure everyone was served, and all clients and cases were covered well. Nicole did this selflessly, with great skill, compassion and love.
She never complained, never asked for anything and gave from her heart. She knew how difficult my life was at the time and did everything and anything she could to help and be there for me. My firm didn’t lose a single client, and she handled everything with great skill and grace.
When my wife passed and I eventually returned to work, my clients were pleased to have me back, but all wanted to continue to work with Nicole. She had impressed them and gained their trust and loyalty.
I will never be able to repay her. But I hope this recognition shows how I feel about her.
Since that time, I have taken on senior status at the law firm. Nicole has become the Chair of Leadership Rhode Island, the President of the Rhode Island Bar Association and a member of the Executive Committee of the firm, a position I once held. This shows that others, not only I, recognize her extraordinary leadership. Nicole is my hero. And the hero of many others she has helped.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I have been an attorney for more than 43 years. I have been recognized as one of the top trial attorneys in the country by many groups. I’m a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, The International Society of Barristers, the American Board of Trial Advocates and Litigation Counsel of America.
I have written 11 legal texts and authored more than 200 articles, columns and reviews.
I have served as President of the Rhode Island Bar Association, the Rhode Island Bar Foundation, Defense Counsel of Rhode Island and the New England Bar Association.
I have spoken to many legal groups, bar associations, industry leaders, philanthropic leaders and educators. In addition to my legal career, I serve as Managing Trustee of the Papitto Opportunity Connection, a foundation that gives grants to hundreds of not for profits, and I serve as the CEO of Iylon Precision Oncology LLC.
Finally, my TEDx Talk, Redemption Stories, was the #1 TEDx Talk in the world in 2023. It now has more than 25 million views. In February 2025 I gave my second TEDx Talk, You Only Have One Life… Until You Have Another, which should be posted on YouTube sometime this Spring.
What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?
My reputation as a trial lawyer came from successfully trying many high-profile cases and representing large companies in bet the company litigation. I’ve also represented Governors, Mayors, legislators and many business leaders when they face significant legal challenges.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
I had great success in law and in life. But when my wife of almost 45 years was diagnosed with Stage 4 pancreatic cancer, my world fell apart. When she passed, I didn’t know my place anymore and had to find it. My wife and I decided to donate the substantial life insurance policies she had to fund cancer research, and we also decided to donate the proceeds of the sale of our beautiful home to fund cancer research, to help others. I moved into a small apartment and started over. I established the John and Pat Tarantino Charitable Foundation and have done everything I can to help and serve others. It’s a new and different life than the one I once had–but it’s the one I’m supposed to be living now.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.pocfoundation.com
- Instagram: @jtarantino73
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/ john. tarantino.9277
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-tarantino-1a
