| Graduation Year | Class of 1960 |
| Date of Passing | Jul 31, 2005 |
| About | JQ, Ritter and I joined the Army right outta South Gate high school. Jim Reid said they laid off half the SG police force when we joined up [Joe-JQ-Dave Ritter and I]. Ritter and I ended up in the Signal Corp and JQ ended up in artillery. The first time he was promoted to Sgt he and a few buddies were on a field problem out in the black forest. They ran outta beer and stole a major's staff car and drove to the nearest gasthaus to refill their supplies of beer. Un fortunately they had crossed over into the Russian/Czechoslovakian territory. The Rooskies stopped them and took 'em to the local jail. As soon as they figured out that they were GIs lost looking for beer one of their officers who still had a since of humor, rather than make a International case out of it, contacted the US forces in the area and arranged for the soldiers and their major's staff car to be taken to the nearest official border crossing and turned over to the Army's loving arms. Joe was the ranking soldier in the group so he was court martialed right there in the field and busted from Sgt E-5 to PFC [a two grade reduction]. Basketball season started a few weeks later and Joe was promoted to corporal. A couple a months after that baseball season began and Joe was again promoted to Sgt E-5. Joe was born on 19 March which is Saint Jose's Day. Soon after he moved to San Juan Capistrano the locals found out when Joe was born and he was a star immediately. The swallows return on St Jose's Day which coinsided with Joe's birthday. He was the Swallow's Day Parade Grand Marshall for years, he couldn't buy a beer, he was the chair of most of the local charities, head of the Charities Best 10 K run, Charites Best Golf Tournament, Equestrian event and the Tall Ships Festival, to name a few. Most of the money raised by these events went to local charities in South Orange County. JQ passed away ten or so years ago. His daughter Andrea and I performed his Eulogy @ the Old San Juan Capistrano cathedral. Every pew was filled, standing room only was packed in the back and loud speakers were set up in the area behind the church for those wishing to pay their last respects but could not find room either standing or sitting. . A huge celebration of JQ's life was held immediately following the church service at The "El Adobe." with a few hundred souls in attendance. Jim Wilson, Joe's oldest and dearest friend, gave a moving memorial to Joe. Joe's passing was the most important event since President Nixon's passing. The "El Adobe" was the Nixon's favorite restaurant. You can make reservations to sit at his favorite table and even sit in his chair. Both table and chair have the presidential seal adorned on them. |
