He was the best of the best

I mostly interacted with Joe elsewhere on the web and didn't know him in real life at all. I will be forever thankful to him for sharing what he knew with the rest of us.

He said something to me once about the futility of chasing the latest and greatest that really changed for the better how I engage with the wine world.

To his family and friends I can only offer my sincerest condolences.
 
Devastated, and words fail at the enormity of this loss.

Seeing these posts and all the familiar names reminds me what a builder and sustainer of community Joe was. What a mensch the world has lost.

To those of you who were closest to Joe and knew him for years longer than I did, I'm thinking of you today and sending my love.
 
I am stunned.

I've known Joe for almost twenty years. He was passionate, interesting, magnanimous and a lot of fun. He loved his mushrooms and his wine and opening his home and sharing his wines and his fungi and his knowledge. I almost never turned down invitations from Joe, because time with him was special and I always came away from those times a bit more enlightened.

Huge loss. Huge.
 
Terribly sad, shocking news as others have said already. Condolences to his family here, especially those who knew him more closely than I, and to his family.
 
I never had the pleasure of meeting Joe in person, but even only knowing him through the virtual world, I felt like I was stabbed in the gut when I learned of his passing. I can't even begin to quantify how much I learned from him, or the number of times his posts made me laugh. But what I remember best about Joe at this time are the ineffable expressions of admiration of and caring for him from those who knew him well that infused so many of their posts to and about him through the years. The knowledge and joy that Joe brought to the world will be sorely missed.

I can only imagine the loss and pain that his family and friends who knew him well are enduring, but please know that you have my deepest condolences. I hope that in time you can find comfort in the wonderful memories you have of time spent with him and from the mark he has left on your lives.
 
It's taken me all day to gather the courage to come in and write this. Almost 20 years now since he was still in San Francisco and we had our first jeebuses, and friendships began for many of us on the WLDG. One of the best, most generous, most charming people ever. I looked forward so much to my visits to NY and those great sessions in Tribeca...
 
originally posted by Alice F.:
Chris, that picture is one of the best.
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It's my favorite, Alice. I know that look so well, it's exactly the one he'd shoot your way should you ever have the temerity to cross his invisible kitchen "Line of Death," back when he lived in Le Vieux Donjon. :)
 
originally posted by Chris Coad:
originally posted by Alice F.:
Chris, that picture is one of the best.
Click to expand...

It's my favorite, Alice. I know that look so well, it's exactly the one he'd shoot your way should you ever have the temerity to cross his invisible kitchen "Line of Death," back when he lived in Le Vieux Donjon. :)
Click to expand...

Clearly he hadn't yet perfected the middle finger jab I would get when I started to whip out my camera in '07. But, you really didn't want to mess with the line of death in his kitchen.
 
originally posted by VS:
It's taken me all day to gather the courage to come in and write this. Almost 20 years now since he was still in San Francisco and we had our first jeebuses, and friendships began for many of us on the WLDG. One of the best, most generous, most charming people ever. I looked forward so much to my visits to NY and those great sessions in Tribeca...
Click to expand...
I remember one of those jeebuses is where I met you for the first time. I think we were at a restaurant in Marin? I can't get over the feeling that this just isn't happening.
 
originally posted by Lou Kessler:
I think we were at a restaurant in Marin? I can't get over the feeling that this just isn't happening.
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That Moroccan place, with my friend Juan José Abó showing his CdP which all the Americans thought brett-infected! ;-) Joe reminded me last year that he had indeed been the organizer of that jeebus.

The good memories make this even harder.
 
when i got these terrible news, it was late at night and i went to bed in the hope it all goes away....

it didn't...

what a loss ...
 
originally posted by Yixin:
No, no, non.

But words and wine are wholly inadequate for moments like this. All I write, all I think is trite.
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I'm not smart or literate enough to find words that probe the depth of my sadness.

Everytime I think I have a handle on it, some memory comes back and I'm crying all over again.

I know time heals all wounds, but it sure doesn't feel like this one will close.
 
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