We were 5 year olds fighting in the Hissey Playground in the outfield.  Joe’s Dad came over and broke it up.  He made us shake hands.  The friendship began.

Joe's favorite treat was a bottle of coke, vanilla fudge Ice Cream cone with Jimmies sprinkled on top and a pretzel stick.   Always a big smile and a cunning sense of humor, some times I didn’t know whether we were coming or going.  As kids we would sneak on the subway elevated and rode all day.   Once we went to Horn and Hardarts to eat and Joe said he was treating.  We went through and picked up our meal and sat down to eat.  You must know you paid on the way out.  Conveniently, the bathrooms were next to the exit.  Well we ate and Joe went to the bathroom but never came back.  I had no money and didn’t know what to think.  So then I duplicated Joes exit, heading to the bathroom and out the door.   He was outside laughing with the big grin of his.  I was pretty unhappy he left me there but a little time after that we laughed hard about it.  I remember it all these years as a very memorable moment.

I used to go to Joes house for dinner sometime.  His Mom and Dad were great people.  Sometimes they would take me along to visit other relatives in North Philadelphia.  I think we had the best pizza I ever had on that trip.

We went to New Jersey to a lake it was great until Joe got cut by some rusted barbed wire and he came down with blood poisoning.   We were about 12 then.   I felt really bad that this happened when my parents took him with us. 

I remembered when he got engaged to Sally.  He loved Sally very much.  She was the Stars in his heaven.  The two of them have made a wonderful family and life.  But in the beginning it was not easy.    He loved Susan so much.  It showed in the attention and care he gave her. 

 I think I was still in the Military but Joe was going to night school and St Joseph’s College and working hard every day.  I remember he had a job driving a tow truck and he told me how difficult it was, having to double clutch between gears.    I was so proud that he mastered that as I knew he would master anything he put his mind.

We were pals forever, even when he went onto college and me to the military.   In 1967 he was on the DMZ as an Army Draftee maintaining Starlight Scopes for DMZ duty.  I was in Pyongtaek, Korea.  I went to visit him.  It was a great reunion.  We had beers together.

He shared a picture with him wearing Rocky Bliers Super Bowl rings.   I was so proud of him rising through the Dupont ranks. 

He was a Republican through and through.  We had many debates but he always seemed to turn me to his way of thought.   

Joe was an avid golfer.  He and Sally loved to play golf together.  They went many places.  I had pictures of them on the golf course.  It always made me smile.

I cannot forget Joe’s sisters.   This will be a great loss for them as Joe was the “Father” figure of the Family.  Many times we talked about his sisters.  He loved them both.

Joe is my oldest and dearest friend.  I don’t know how it will be without getting his e-mails or having an occasional chat on the phone.   I have all these fond memories and won’t be making anymore.    As we lived many miles away most of our lives seeing him seem, less important than hearing or reading him.

My last visit with Joe was last year, when I drove up from Virginia to see him.   It was a surprise visit and I was lucky Sally and he was home.   We had a great two hour visit, bantering, back and forth.   He looked frail to me at that time.  I told him he needed to work on his golf swing as he was going through therapy.  Get back on the course.

Joe tried valiantly to recover.  I know all the pain and hard work he put forth to stay with Sally and Family.   It was beyond his ability to get better.  Joe you are now in a better place with your Mom, Dad, and Grandmother.  No pain just love and God.  I know you will look down on Sally and keep her safe and intuitively remember the thing you have said so she can go on.