Still bothers me that something so crappy happened to such a nice guy. First time I met Joe was around 2004 at a PWCToday event in Asbury Park NJ. Rob had flown in Joe from California to do some free riding, and Joe road Rob's blue Wamiltons ski. it was a rough ocean that day, and Joe just hucked every wave. He absolutely just went off.
Later that night I ended up bumping into Joe again and he asked if he could borrow a razor, the guy dry shaved like it was something he was used to doing. A whole of us ended up at a place called the Sawmill, which was a pizza place with HUGE slices and beers up in Seaside NJ, (before MTV and Jersey Shore ruined it)
One of the most down to earth guys you could ever meet. Here i was new to the sport at the time hanging out with a legend....that memory sticks with me.
I hope he continues to stay active in the sport and one day he wakes up and has vision well enough to once again shred.