September 9, 2022
I met Joel when he moved in down the street from me, circa 1959. As a young teenage girl, I was literally blown away by his good looks! We, along with several other kids in our neighborhood spent a lot of time together. We rode our bikes, Joel had a cool blue Vespa, and lifelong memories were made.
Joel’s parents and my parents were friends and we often spent Thanksgivings together. Joel and I would be upstairs waiting for dinner to be served, while our parents were down in our basement recreation room, having their pre-dinner cocktails. I think a few dinners were over-cooked, as we couldn’t get them to come upstairs to eat.
I knew back then, Joel was very talented and creative and artsy. He and his lifelong friend, Bob Phardel, used to build model cars, putting them together and painting them. They were perfect little pieces of art.
Once high school was over, I saw very little of Joel. We lost touch for probably 30 years. One day, I got a call from Joel’s older brother, J.D., who was my partner in crime in high school. He caught me up on the missing years and updated me on Joel’s life. It was perhaps then that I found out how to get in touch with Joel again.
We began emailing each other and had so much fun talking about the old neighborhood, what had happened to our mutual friends, and life in general. We stayed in touch, off and on, until he passed. He shared with me his various art, his love of writing, and his many interests. He was unique. He loved entertaining and would tell me what he planned to serve to his guests. He polished his silver, he made sure everything was perfect.
One thing I will always remember that he told me, when I was once planning a party myself. I was nervous about so many aspects of the whole process, and he was such a pro at it. I was asking him questions about this or that. He simply said something to the effect that I shouldn’t worry about anything, that parties seem to take on a life of their own. And he was so right.
It seems almost impossible that my childhood buddy is now gone. So much we experience in our youth, we take with us throughout our lives. I’m so happy Joel and Andrea and Olivia were back together and were able to make and share beautiful memories together again. RIP JRP.
Joel’s parents and my parents were friends and we often spent Thanksgivings together. Joel and I would be upstairs waiting for dinner to be served, while our parents were down in our basement recreation room, having their pre-dinner cocktails. I think a few dinners were over-cooked, as we couldn’t get them to come upstairs to eat.
I knew back then, Joel was very talented and creative and artsy. He and his lifelong friend, Bob Phardel, used to build model cars, putting them together and painting them. They were perfect little pieces of art.
Once high school was over, I saw very little of Joel. We lost touch for probably 30 years. One day, I got a call from Joel’s older brother, J.D., who was my partner in crime in high school. He caught me up on the missing years and updated me on Joel’s life. It was perhaps then that I found out how to get in touch with Joel again.
We began emailing each other and had so much fun talking about the old neighborhood, what had happened to our mutual friends, and life in general. We stayed in touch, off and on, until he passed. He shared with me his various art, his love of writing, and his many interests. He was unique. He loved entertaining and would tell me what he planned to serve to his guests. He polished his silver, he made sure everything was perfect.
One thing I will always remember that he told me, when I was once planning a party myself. I was nervous about so many aspects of the whole process, and he was such a pro at it. I was asking him questions about this or that. He simply said something to the effect that I shouldn’t worry about anything, that parties seem to take on a life of their own. And he was so right.
It seems almost impossible that my childhood buddy is now gone. So much we experience in our youth, we take with us throughout our lives. I’m so happy Joel and Andrea and Olivia were back together and were able to make and share beautiful memories together again. RIP JRP.