Sitaniselao Juliest Beck “Tani” Tau, a 2005 Aragon graduate, accidentally drowned in Lake Berryessa on Saturday, August 25th after jumping and swimming away from a pontoon boat while with friends at the south end of the lake. His body was recovered the next day by a dive team. Tau would have turned 25 on the following Monday.
Tau, who played Varsity football at Aragon during his sophomore, junior and senior years, is remembered as an avid athlete and team member.
Steven Sell, Aragon’s current head football coach who also coached Tau for three years, says, “He played football with unbridled joy… When we played, you could tell he loved the game. He was bubbly, playful. He was an intelligent player—intuitive and tough, tough, tough. The combination of his quickness and strength made him a great high school football player.”
His family also remembers Tau for his athleticism.
His aunt, Tina Kautai, describes him as “A show-show guy. He was outgoing, sociable, very family-oriented, and a big sports person. He played every sport there is—soccer, basketball, baseball, rugby, football.” She adds, “What he did, he gave it his all.”
Indeed, after graduating from Aragon, Tau became a member of the San Mateo Warriors, a local rugby team, before having his daughter Mya, who is currently five.
Tau’s older brother and 2003 Aragon graduate Sanitoa “Toa” Tau says that Tani Tau considered going to college after graduation, but adds, “Then Mya came into his life, and she was pretty much his everything after that.”
Kautai describes Tani Tau as “The best father. Everybody who knows him knows that when she came into this world, she became the light of his life. He loved being with his family and his brothers, but the biggest out of all—he spent his time with his daughter.”
Toa Tau, who currently does not have any children, adds, “My fondest memory is seeing him with Mya. He was always the best dad that he could be; he was always there for her.” He adds, “I looked up to him with that father perspective.”
In addition to being a committed father, Tani Tau is remembered as a humorous and convivial member of the family.
Toa Tau recalls, “He was always in a good mood. He was never really down, and he was always just joking with people.”
Sell adds, “He inspired other players, [and] he inspired me.”
Yet perhaps Tani Tau will be remembered most for the one attribute which always displayed his strength and propensity for living life to its fullest—his smile.
Recalling her nephew’s jovial personality, Kautai says, “His smile spoke for itself.”
