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.
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