Tara and the Brinkley Family,

I was saddened to hear of Joe’s passing. Joe was such a cheerful person; whenever I saw him, he always greeted me with such a warm and welcoming smile! I met Joe when we worked together in the Resource Center and I had the pleasure to share many laughs with him over the years. A good man, gone too soon. He will be missed. My thoughts and prayers are with you all.

Joe was so awesome, smart and funny. We did not see each other as much because we worked in separate buildings but I will never forget his warmth. When he moved to the farm he talked about his wife, kids and the new place with so much excitement. He loved you guys so much he would tell stories and I felt like I was there. He would break out that phone and start to show pictures beaming with pride.  Those moments and talks would take you away even for a moment to a happier place his energy was contagious.

Tara, Diann and family my prayers are with you guys. Thank you for sharing him with me and the world. 

I've been trying to say something for a week and it all seems inadequate. I'm not sure where I'd be if I hadn't met Joe. He was one of the first people I met in STM Correspondent and certainly one of the most outgoing. Between working on the same team and being roommates, Joe was an essential part (and often the catalyst) of more memories that I could recount here:

Going to the Transformers movie which he was utterly obsessed with for a while. Listening to gunshots from the roof of the Franklin apartment tower in downtown Richmond on New Year's. Getting pulled over because Joe's bike was in the back of my car and the cops thought we were in a bicycle gang that was terrorizing Willow Lawn. Playing pool at night and soccer at work. An impromptu lesson in driving stick in the Fan.

Joe leaves a space that can't be filled.