May the road rise to meet you.
May the wind always be at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face.
May the rains fall soft upon your fields
and until we meet again, May God hold you in the palm of his hand.

Amen

This was at the door today.From Bob, his Greenburgh coach, and a neighbor, and always a friend

When Joseph was 13, Coach Bob very kindly put Joseph on a relay team with some of the best athletes in Westchester County at the Summer County Championships. These kids went on to get college scholarships extended to them for their swimming. Bob felt Joe deserved the chance because he was such a dedicated swimmer and a hard, enthusiastic worker. Joseph came through for the team that night, he swam a personal best, and they won, broke a record. Bob let Joe bring the trophy home that night! Joseph was so proud and happy that night! This picture makes me cry. Today, Bob left some t-shirts at the door, memorials of his elementary school class (his daughter Morgan was in the same class as Joe), and that swim season. This note was included.
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Chow Family

Please accept the items with this bag. With regrets, it seems months and we have been holding onto these t's.

Joseph brought so much to those who he met and we embraced his his humility and wholesomeness. It was never an act, just Joseph being the young man who was raised within your household.

Morgan (Bob's daughter) readlly wanted you to have the graduating class from Seely Place t-shirt. And I am sustained in my life by the the contributions provided by the individuals and friendships from Greenburgh and Edgemont. Its funny how we reflect back and flirt with memories.

"We are Greenburgh", and your family and Joseph were part of the belief that with effort, and excellence we can exceed the expectations of those who doubt you. Never ever fail to realize your self worth and treat everyone you meet as a friend and a contributing member of a team, and a society. A friend once wrote to me "Have a good living giving day today" That was the Joseph who impacted me personally from the time spent around him. Everyone felt these same emotions.

Respectfully

Bob

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Peace Corp Memories

I loved that Joe was always very welcoming and hospitable. Being in Africa that is so important and Joe was always happy to have visitors, whether he knew you were coming or not and he always knew to share something to drink and eat right away. I am so sad to lose Joe He was one of the volunteers who truly reached out to everyone, even staff, and reminded us all why we have peace corps , and what we bring to the world Joe is exceptional. Thank you for sharing him with us
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I must say that Joe made a positive impact on me the first time I met him. He was so full of energy and eager to offer words of advice He must have had a strong and loving family to develop the character he showed as a PCV in Tanzania. Also I want to say on behalf of all the PCV's we all appreciated the letters you wrote that were read during Joe's service at PC headquarters Joe was truly blessed to have you as a mother ,father and brothers I'll continue to keep you all in my prayers Joe's death is just a reminder of the short time we have on earth, and just as Joe did to make the very most of life.
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Arusha is about as far as you can go from Mtwara, and still be in a region with PCVs So I was surprised when Joe texted me this March. Hi this is Joe from Mtwara I am thinking of going to Arusha in a few days, can I come visit your site?

A grim bloomed on my face. A visitor? There is nothing, absolutely nothing, that's better than a surprise visitor Especially for a PCV at an isolated site with few visitors.

Karibu sana! I wrote. Though I didn't actually believe he would come- there were only two PCV's in Arusha at the time and besides I had only met him once. Even if he was already in Kilimanjaro region, the six hours from Moshi to my village is a long way to travel

but two days later, in the evening there was a knock at my door There was Joe with one of my neighbors beside him I was tongue-tied at the rare and sudden appearance of an American in my village "ER hey welcome, come on in!"

We spent a good evening doing the usual PCV activities, cooking eating and swapping stories about Tanzania I always forget how truly cathartic it is to speak in rapid English and to exchange stories with someone else who is experienced the life of a PCV teacher. We spent much of the night sitting in my courtyard under the stars, just talking and the break from school left me feeling refreshed and ready for another week of teaching Joe even made my day again several weeks later when I opened my PO box to find a postcard of his site thanking me for my hospitality.

Mgeni ni baraka An unexpected mgeni from far away ni baraka zaidi. I'll always remember Joe for making the effort to travel to a distant site and putting a grin on my face when I needed it.