Dr. Tarantino was born and raised in the northeast Bronx and attended Mount St. Michael Academy. Dr. Tarantino graduated from the Mount in 1971 and then attended Manhattan College from 1971 to 1975, graduating Magna Cum Laude with a BS in Biology. He was also a member of the Beta Beta Beta Biological Honor Society and the Epsilon Sigma Pi Honor Society. Dr. Tarantino then attended the Pennsylvania College of Optometry from 1975-1979. He entered private practice in Hopewell in 1982; he was associated with the V.A. hospital at both Castle Point and Montrose from 1983-1996. He attained Fellowship status in the American Academy of Optometry in 1990 as well as passing the therapeutic management of eye disease examination that same year. He was adjunct assistant clinical professor with the State University College of Optometry from 1988-1996. He is presently a New York State Clinical Examiner with the Board of Examiners. He is past president of the Hudson Valley Optometric Society (1991-1993). He is presently a member of the East Fishkill Rotary and has served as CYO coach for baseball and basketball from 1990-1996.

Dr. Tarantino and his wife Louise have been married for 29 years. They have two children: Christine, 26, a graduate of Providence College and an Elementary School Teacher in Carmel, NY and a son David, 22, a graduate of Bentley College in Boston and working for an investment firm. Dr. Tarantino enjoys golf, the local gym, reading and traveling.