Joel passed away from medical complications after a lengthy medical issue. He was married for 30 years and has 2 grown children with his 2nd wife Sandy. Joel and I had three children together and share 5 grand children. Joel was a psychiatrist by profession and lived in the Leigh Valley area. He retired to Florida during his final illness. He remained close to his family especially his children. Sadly, none of his children or grandchildren showed any interest in playing the tuba. But they are very talented in other ways. 🥰
Used to greatly enjoy playing with Joel in various pit orchestras and regularly in a brass quartet which, if I am not mistaken, he organized. At least he got us the two actual gigs I remember playing. I believe Hugh Wickes (who would have been class of '76) was one of the two trumpets. The second trumpet escapes me. I was the trombone, so sat next to Joel. He was quite good musically, and I recall he was patient with me when I needed some extra rehearsal time with him to handle well a contrapuntal Bach piece with a lot of entrances and exits by Joel and I, which I found tough to count for some reason.
And there was silliness and common suffering in marching band in those wool uniforms in the sun. Or in the cold when out lips could freeze to the larger mouthpieces of the trombone and tuba (or sousaphone when marching).
Dianne Leonard (Lerman)
Joel passed away from medical complications after a lengthy medical issue. He was married for 30 years and has 2 grown children with his 2nd wife Sandy. Joel and I had three children together and share 5 grand children. Joel was a psychiatrist by profession and lived in the Leigh Valley area. He retired to Florida during his final illness. He remained close to his family especially his children. Sadly, none of his children or grandchildren showed any interest in playing the tuba. But they are very talented in other ways. 🥰
Jonathan LeBreton
Used to greatly enjoy playing with Joel in various pit orchestras and regularly in a brass quartet which, if I am not mistaken, he organized. At least he got us the two actual gigs I remember playing. I believe Hugh Wickes (who would have been class of '76) was one of the two trumpets. The second trumpet escapes me. I was the trombone, so sat next to Joel. He was quite good musically, and I recall he was patient with me when I needed some extra rehearsal time with him to handle well a contrapuntal Bach piece with a lot of entrances and exits by Joel and I, which I found tough to count for some reason.
And there was silliness and common suffering in marching band in those wool uniforms in the sun. Or in the cold when out lips could freeze to the larger mouthpieces of the trombone and tuba (or sousaphone when marching).
Rest in peace