I was of course exhibit #1 among the people Leon asked Joe to stay away from. I tried recently to smooth things out with him on the board but I didn't stand a chance. I guess once Joe set his mind on something, that was it. I have to say it did upset me that he and I had such a poor rapport. Well, as I said earlier, I have no hard feelings any more.

Sorry to hear the sad news, condolences to Joe's family. It's tough to lose a contributor to this board.
RC

This is sad news. My initial encounter with Joe was as a neophyte poster on this Board when he scolded me in a sort of "who the hell are you?" way for suggesting that there might be certain errors in Heitman's The Monster. Having gotten to know Joe better in several phone conversations in the last couple of years, I came to appreciate that this initial hazing was Joe's personal initiation rite to our great hobby, born out of his deep love and respect for its traditions.

As others have said, Joe's often gruff Board persona masked a certain sweetness in the man that revealed itself in more personal settings. On the phone, Joe was jovial, quick with a joke and generous with his time. One lesson I will take from Joe is to try and keep written conversations as cordial as oral ones.

I more often than not disagreed with Joe on policy questions. But now that he is gone, I already miss him--much in the same way I missed Howard Cosell on Monday Night Football after he departed. Agree with him or not, Joe was a life force to be felt, and not ignored.

Rest in peace.

Wow. I don't know what to really say...

Although I have dropped out of the hobby, due to financial issues, and have been selling off my beaters, I would still call him every couple of months.
Seems like I just spoke to him...maybe in late March. I knew his health was failing
but he never once went into details.

I sold him a few of my T210s - a set he said he was crazy to try and put together
at his advanced age. He was close to the T217 set, missing a couple or so.
He had multiples of the T209 set.

We shared a common interest in old Cuban cards and a NYC childhood.

He would always retell his story of his T206 Doyle, how he got it, KO and the master card doctor - I forget his name.

He was great, always willing to share his knowledge and time with me.

He would tell me he would always keep an eye out for a 1922 Zeenut Cueto for me.

He will be very missed indeed.

As he always would end our conversations...."quidate", in spanish sincerely meaning
to take care of yourself.

Quidate, Joe. Until we meet again.

Joe Pelaez
 

I never met Joe P. but corresponded with him once in a while about a few different things. I am sorry to hear this news and send my condolences to his family.

Joe Pelaez
 

I have been a close friend of Joe Pelaez for nearly 20 years and frequently attended the Chantilly Baseball Card Show with Joe. For nearly all that time,
Joe and I had seats together at the Prince William County Carolina League (now Potomac Nationals) games. Joe was a Yankee fan and hence his user name of "Potomac YanK.

A mutual friend of ours phoned today to let me know that there was a thread on this site dedicated to Joe. Joe and I attended the Chantilly show on Friday April 23rd and he came to my home that evening for dinner and to discuss the show and what he had bought. Joe called me on Friday April 24th to discuss an issue with the renewal of his apartment rental lease. He also sent my wife and I an email on Saturday April 25th with one of his many jokes. Apparently, Joe died on this later day.

Without getting into details, Joe has had several illnesses over the past three years (as have I) which made it very difficult for us to walk into and around stadiums or card shows. However, I understand that Joe was believed by the Loudoun County (Virginia) Rescue Squad to have died of a heart attack.

For those of you who had disagreements with Joe, please know that even Joe would, from time to time, disagree with Joe. Even we had disagreements, but as Korean War veterans our mutual experiences always overcame any temporary differences. Joe was a bonafide Korean War hero who was at Chosen Reservoir freeing in the ice and snow with a summer unform when the Chinese Communists threw everything they had at the Marines, and the Marines held strong!

Joe was my best friend for the last twenty years and I will miss him more that I can ever tell you1

If any one would like to commnicate with me about Joe, please email me at thyland3202@yahoo.com or call me at 703-0266-7640. I will be attending his memorial service in July.