Obituaries

Joe passed away on October 24, 2022 at the age of 40. He is survived by his child, their mother, his parents, sister, and many other loved ones and friends.

Joe was born on December 18, 1981 in Daly City, CA to his anxiously awaiting parents and sister. Joey, as we called him then, grew into a happy, curly haired, little guy who liked to play and explore. He enjoyed trips to the zoo and the beach, and playing with his sister.

When Joe was eight years old, we moved to Fremont, CA. He tried little league, but Joe was never really into sports. It was music that really captured his interest. In middle school Joe taught himself how to play the drums and joined his first band. They were thrilled to play at 924 Gilman in Berkeley, CA where bands like Green Day had performed.

After high school Joe continued to pursue drumming and began his culinary journey. Joe and a couple of friends formed a punk band named The Sore Thumbs. They played many shows in the San Francisco Bay Area and even hit the road touring. They recorded several albums and built up a devoted fan base. It was a fun and memorable time for all.

Joe worked in various restaurants acquiring on the job, culinary training. He loved creating dishes and trying new things. Joe was hard-working and eager to learn. In 2011 he joined Facebook’s culinary team in Menlo Park, CA. In 2016 Joe transferred to Facebook in Seattle, WA where he worked his way up to Director of Culinary of the Pacific Northwest and Southern California. Joe’s team and colleagues respected and admired his hard work, creativity, mentorship and leadership style.

In 2013 he married and started a family. He was over the moon to welcome a baby to the world in 2015. He cherished spending time with his child, going to the coffee shop, drawing together, and getting outdoors.

In addition to being a talented drummer and chef, Joe had an aesthetic eye for things. As a kid, he would often give his mom helpful suggestions to coordinate an outfit. As an adult he had an eye for what looked good in his home, choosing a cool hat or taking a great photo. Joe also honed his drawing and painting skills, creating amusing and fanciful cartoons, and beautiful floral art with watercolors.

Joe found joy in riding his motorcycle and driving in his classic truck. It made him particularly happy to see the smiles on people’s faces as he drove by in his 54 Ford. Joe loved to jam on the drums, check out live bands and listen to old records. Some of his musical favorites were Johnny Cash, The Beach Boys, Tom Petty, Led Zeppelin and Pearl Jam.

Joe had a big heart and a positive effect on all who knew him. He was smart, compassionate, funny, talented, hard working and dedicated. Joe was fortunate to have so many supportive and loving friends and family around him throughout his life. He will be missed dearly and live on in our hearts and minds, and in his music forever.

A memorial will be held on Saturday February 18, 2023 in Santa Clara, California, and via Zoom. In-person space is limited. For more information please contact Joe’s sister, Gina at [email protected]

If you would like to make a donation in Joe’s name, please consider one of the following:

FareStart https://www.farestart.org

The Vera Project https://theveraproject.org

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention https://afsp.org/