Hey Tom, Stephen Banks here pal ­ so sorry to hear about Joe. Its like the
world is a bit greyer, a bit more diminished by his passing. Even tho we
didnąt always keep in touch, it was damn good to know a person like Joe
existed and was out in the wild. Iąd like to share my memories of Joe, which
are very fresh as he was such a unique person.

I first met Joe so long ago, we worked together at said desktop publishing
shop others mentioned. This was 10-15 years ago? Joe was bright, funny,
talented, smart ­ so many things ­ he thought ­ differently ­ and I liked
that. You never had a boring conversation with the fellow. I remember his
humor, his wit. He convinced his brother Tom to join us and we used to bribe
Tom to go for slushy runs on hot summer days (Tom will no doubt edit this
out). Joe and I talked about his love of things muppety and he convinced me
to take my family to Disneyworld for the first time. A move that
financially, I shall never forgive him for (grins) as we have been many many
times since.

Joe left for another company but we stayed in touch. I attended his first
wedding with my young son, and I remember my son, 4 at the time, going up to
Joe after the wedding and asking why there was no Jesus on the wall, since
we are catholic and used to that symbol. Joe wasnąt phased a bit and
launched into a lengthy discussion of why a Unitarian church did not have a
crucified Jesus hanging on the wall, but I think my son had son had found
the dessert table by then (grin.)

Years later, I co founded a tech company and invited Joe to come work for
us. It was truly great to have him there as he brought the same wit, smile,
good humor and love of learning the projects to the company. Everyone agreed
he was the perfect addition. Tom joined us for a while and it was the good
old days again. I remember them very fondly, but Tom was too highly paid to
go on Slushy runs anymore (sad face.)

I remember some months later, Joe told us he has been talking to a girl he
met on the Internet! Gasp! Are you crazy, we said? Then he told us he was
going to meet her and where should they meet? We had a lengthy discussion,
the whole department over lunch. The merits of where to meet someone the
first time. The bookstore coffee shop seemed safe and public ­ and we said
that if she saw him in a bookstore she might think he was extra smart and
that always pretty good? The next day, he could not stop talking about this
girl (Jenn) who he described as a younger, sexier Gillian Anderson, he even
said she was prettier than the local female newscaster he had built a fan
site for ­ that was later taken down after letters from the attorneys.  I
remember him telling us of the first time her met her parents, etc. It was
great to see Joe in love and be happy. We saw him grow into the relationship
with her over time ­ and everyone was happy for him. Everyone one of us