Joe was a very intelligent and warm human being who got overwhelmed by the 1960's. He and I met in the 5th grade at Freedom elementary school and were friends for a long time ; until he became unhinged by drugs. I love him forever.
i met joe in the third grade ... we got in a fight. the teacher set us on the steps together... joe could barely speak english so ... we became friends... we shared an apartment in Watsonville after I came home from the Army. Joe was well loved by the girls and later when he was in Chico he came to Oregon to visit. He had a wonderful wife and little son ... and the drugs got him .... My prayers go out to Joe ... he was a great, smart, beautiful guy ... Adios Joe!
Joe sat right in front of me in geometry class and I was fascinated by those eyes! He had the longest and thickest lashes and I was so jealous! He was so quiet and polite, a really beautiful person. We lost him too soon!
I playeds sports with Joe at Freedom Elementary ...I remember when we found out Fabian's last name was Forte and when Buddy Holley and Ritchie Valens died in a plane crash. In 1962 we won a Lt Wt Track championship with Joe finishing second in the 1320 yard race....i post a picture of Joe with his medal . I also threw a screen pass to Joe against Paso Robles [ Varsity] that Joe turned into a touchdown....I may have a newspaper clipping of that..I will post it if so....I think about Joe, Ballard and Robert Rigor whenever I listen to Real Rock and Roll...Rod Fort
I knew some things about Joe, but never really knew him. He went to Freedom elementary and I to E.A. Hall, he went with Sandy Christ and I wanted to. Later Sandy and I went steady for a time. In high school Joe did well in sports and class...I did neither. Somehow, we became roommates at Chico, after Cabrillo. We joined the Phi Kappa Tau together, and after pledgeship hung-out with different factions. I got serious about school, Joe got on another track. The fraternity broke over smoking marijuana and we both sided with the rebels. I lost track of Joe in the early 70's after getting a masters in counseling and a job at UC Davis. I heard he became a teacher, had drug problems (whatever that was) and later died. I'm sorry we never got closer...behind the masks...into the dreams and regrets. I miss you Joe. May you rest in peace.
to maybe help clarify a bit about Joe so those reading have a better understanding of part of his story. Joe's uncle was the chief of police of Mexicalli Mexico. Joe would go down and buy pot real cheap and come back up and sell it. He got mixed up with many other drugs that were much more serious in nature than pot. In the end he was busted coming across the border. He called me from the police station asking for help. I couldn't help him. He was sent to prison and it was found he was illegal and thus, in the end, was deported. I heard he was then killed in Mexico but I don't know how or where. Joe needed counseling, not prison.
Rodney Fort
Joe was a very intelligent and warm human being who got overwhelmed by the 1960's. He and I met in the 5th grade at Freedom elementary school and were friends for a long time ; until he became unhinged by drugs. I love him forever.Rod Fort
Lee Leikam
i met joe in the third grade ... we got in a fight. the teacher set us on the steps together... joe could barely speak english so ... we became friends... we shared an apartment in Watsonville after I came home from the Army. Joe was well loved by the girls and later when he was in Chico he came to Oregon to visit. He had a wonderful wife and little son ... and the drugs got him .... My prayers go out to Joe ... he was a great, smart, beautiful guy ... Adios Joe!
Kathy Meidl
Joe sat right in front of me in geometry class and I was fascinated by those eyes! He had the longest and thickest lashes and I was so jealous! He was so quiet and polite, a really beautiful person. We lost him too soon!
Rodney Fort
I playeds sports with Joe at Freedom Elementary ...I remember when we found out Fabian's last name was Forte and when Buddy Holley and Ritchie Valens died in a plane crash. In 1962 we won a Lt Wt Track championship with Joe finishing second in the 1320 yard race....i post a picture of Joe with his medal . I also threw a screen pass to Joe against Paso Robles [ Varsity] that Joe turned into a touchdown....I may have a newspaper clipping of that..I will post it if so....I think about Joe, Ballard and Robert Rigor whenever I listen to Real Rock and Roll...Rod Fort
Jerry Snow
I knew some things about Joe, but never really knew him. He went to Freedom elementary and I to E.A. Hall, he went with Sandy Christ and I wanted to. Later Sandy and I went steady for a time. In high school Joe did well in sports and class...I did neither. Somehow, we became roommates at Chico, after Cabrillo. We joined the Phi Kappa Tau together, and after pledgeship hung-out with different factions. I got serious about school, Joe got on another track. The fraternity broke over smoking marijuana and we both sided with the rebels. I lost track of Joe in the early 70's after getting a masters in counseling and a job at UC Davis. I heard he became a teacher, had drug problems (whatever that was) and later died. I'm sorry we never got closer...behind the masks...into the dreams and regrets. I miss you Joe. May you rest in peace.
Lee Leikam
to maybe help clarify a bit about Joe so those reading have a better understanding of part of his story. Joe's uncle was the chief of police of Mexicalli Mexico. Joe would go down and buy pot real cheap and come back up and sell it. He got mixed up with many other drugs that were much more serious in nature than pot. In the end he was busted coming across the border. He called me from the police station asking for help. I couldn't help him. He was sent to prison and it was found he was illegal and thus, in the end, was deported. I heard he was then killed in Mexico but I don't know how or where. Joe needed counseling, not prison.