Guestbook

Dear Susan and Family,
Please know that you are in my prayers. We are heartbroken for you.
God bless

Dear Joey,
I think about you and miss you every day! It is still unimaginable that we will never see your handsome, smiling face walk through the door again at the next family get together. I uploaded just a few of the many pictures I have of you growing up. I will always remember you packing a monopoly game on our trip to Hawaii because we were going to be there for your birthday and your birthday wish was to play a full and complete game of monopoly all the way to the end with no quitting. It took more than one day, in between doing other fun stuff in Hawaii, but we did it, didn't we? I also remember the Palm Springs trip when I had my new water-proof camera and we must have taken at least a hundred pictures with Kristin and Kelli and Rob trying to do all sorts of silly poses underwater. You've always had the most kind and gentle spirit but fun-loving as well, and I am so sorry that your life was cut so short. I feel such pain to know that we won't be able to make any more new memories with you, but I will treasure these and so many others that I have of you.
Love you always, aunt Mary

I still can't quite get my head around the fact that you're not with us anymore. Your sudden passing has had me contemplating the import of life and death, and I've been especially inspired by the Stoic philosophers in that respect. To paraphrase Marcus Aurelius:

How small is the portion of infinite and immeasurable time allotted to each of us? So soon swallowed by eternity. And what a small part of all the matter in the universe? When you reflect on such magnitude, consider nothing grandiose, except to conduct your life in accordance with Nature.

You, Joey, more than most, lived your life close to and in accordance with Nature, and with your own nature. You didn't wait for some nebulous and indefinable future to start living your life the way you wanted. I respect and admire that, and will continue to find inspiration in your example.

I love you,
Jason

During middle school a large group of students got to travel to Catalina Island together. We all went on tons of different adventures. Snorkeling, exploration classes, and a couple of other fun experiences. I vividly remember Joey being such an observant kid. He didn’t ever act out he was very interested in learning so many new discoveries about nature. During one of the classes we learned about different types of fish on the Island. There is a vibrant bright orange fish on the island. The name of this fish is sometimes known as the Catalina goldfish or the Marine goldfish. Another common name is the Garibaldi fish. That name has stuck with me my entire life because of Joey. Anytime I’ve traveled to Catalina I see the fish there and immediately think of him and the middle school trip to Catalina Island. For me there will be a whole different meaning to these fish. They are in memoriam of an amazing human who left an unforgettable impact on so many others. Thank you Joey for all the memories. Not just to me but to thousands of others. You are missed already.