Joel will be missed. I hope the Connelly/Pailthorp family finds strength and is comforted by the warm memories of a life well lived. I got to know Joel first as a fierce competitor when we were both on the state politics beat in the 1990s. Decades later as luck would have it, both of us were contributing pieces in retirement to the same platform, Post Alley. I am so impressed that Joel kept writing to the very end. May his passion for writing and love of craft be an inspiration to others.
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I'm very sorry for your loss. Joel was bigger than life and gave life his all. He was a valued colleague who cared deeply for the P-I and for journalism and for the community he lived in.
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You're sorely missed, Joel.
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Like all of us, I love reading the warm tributes and memories of Joel, and I had the dubious honor of "winning" his Understatement of the Year Award.
I was leaving Sound Transit and one of my final tasks was meeting with the Seattle P.I. Editorial Board with Acting Executive Director Joni Earl.
Sound Transit Link light rail was several years behind schedule and hundreds of millions of dollars over budget.
After being interrogated with hard questions and responding with some, but not all of the answers, Joel Connelly had one final question:
"After all that you've shared, what does your gut feel is the reason why you're in this predicament?"
I replied, "Optimism was not our friend."
We all admire and miss you Joel.
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