The Passing of a Pirate–Joseph Eddy


Joseph Eddy died early yesterday morning in Phillipsville. Musician, martial artist, pirate and sweet guy.  His raspy voice carried laughter to those of us lucky enough to know him.  It would be hard not to smile around Joe as Capt Jack Sparrow was a part he played and a part he lived.  A rogue with a charming smile and gorgeous eyes, Joe was easy to love and hard to watch die.

Humboldt is full of characters.  Folk who come here because the rest of the world won’t leave them be. Elsewhere folk need the movies to find men like him–colorful and crazy with life. But they don’t really want them around.  They want people easy to peg and control. Joe was neither. Joe was a man who could tear up.  A tough guy who was sweet. A rogue with a twinkle.  A punk musician who was never punky. Joe never meant to hurt anyone though it was hard for us all to watch him hurt himself.


Most of all Joseph was a man who loved his children.  He could never see enough of his three oldest–Rane, Oliver and Iris who live in the Sacramento area.  He delighted in them and in his youngest, Jorin.

I’ll miss you, Joe.

________________

2nd from the bottom photo taken by Armida Scopazzi

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27 Comments
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Lisa M
Guest
Lisa M
12 years ago

Great job capturing his essence in words Kym, he will be sorely missed. I dreamt of his beautiful eyes, his shy smile and his infectious laugh last night and woke with a smile and a heavy heart. He was much more than his illness and touched many people in many ways. Humboldt wakes a little less colorful today without joe’s chucks kickin around.

Staff
Member
12 years ago
Reply to  Lisa M

I burst in to tears reading your comment, Lisa. Humboldt is a little less colorful without Joe.

Susan Beckerdite
Guest
Susan Beckerdite
12 years ago

I miss my loving neighbor. What a charming soul.

Annie
Guest
Annie
12 years ago

I would also like to comment on the passing of another Pirate Soul, also in Phillipsville, on Friday Last. Although he didn’t dress the part, many of the things said here could also be said about Ken Farrel, a lost soul, full of pain, but always laughing, cracking jokes. A talented man, creative in artwork and music. He was a good man, but bent on self-destruction. I spent seven years with him, and I always hoped he could live to fulfill his potential, but it was not to be. Kenny died of heart failure on Friday 4/23. he was 39 years old. I will always mourn the tragedy of a lost and wasted life.

Lodgepole
Guest
Lodgepole
12 years ago
Reply to  Annie

So sad to hear of Kenny’s passing. I knew him since he moved to the neighborhood in the 80’s. He was a truly nice guy I could always count on for a smile. RIP.

Becky
Guest
Becky
12 years ago

Thinking about all the wonderful laughs and timely advise he shared with me…I’m going to miss you Joseph.

bobbi
Guest
bobbi
12 years ago

So sorry Kym, and another person who I did not know passes, and leaves a hole of not knowing within me.
What a beautiful tribute you made to the man Joseph.

gauri635
Guest
gauri635
12 years ago

WHAT!!! I am so so sorry to read this. Knew Joseph briefly thru Sand-Da and Maria. A sweet man with a twinkle in his eye and a big heart. So sad. I send condolences to his family.

mark
Guest
mark
12 years ago

SOOO sorry to hear this news. Joseph and Maria are among the first neighbors we met when we began delivering firewood, and we were concerned when we met at the hospital when we had an accident on the ranch and Joseph was ill… but I didn’t realize HOW ill. I’m not the most organized or professional guy, but Joseph was ALWAYS gracious and kind…with a wink. I’m having a hard time understanding I won’t see him this fall. My condolences to Maria and family. mark

Megan Fanning
Guest
Megan Fanning
12 years ago

Thank you so much for this. I think pirate is the perfect way to describe him. Joe was my cousin. When we met just over 20 years ago I was shocked at the resemblence not only in looks but personality. Joe never bowed down to socital pressures to be someone he was not and I deeply admire that as it has been harder for me at times. Spendig to much of my time trying please others and be who they think I should be. Fighting my inner pirate/hippie to the point that I sometimes feel split in two. So in honor of my beloved cousin I will follow my heart instead of everyone else’s because I know he would would want us all to.
Peace, Love and Hope,
Megan

Lodgepole
Guest
Lodgepole
12 years ago

So sad to hear of Kenny’s passing. I knew him since he moved to the neighborhood in the 80’s. He was a truly nice guy I could always count on for a smile. RIP.

Ken Larson
Guest
Ken Larson
12 years ago

I was married to Joe’s mother shortly after he discovered her. His mother was still a teen when she gave birth to Joe and was forced to give him up for adoption. She passed away a few short years later, and I know she would want me to express her and our condolences to the remaining family. RIP Joe.

Mary Gilroy
Guest
Mary Gilroy
12 years ago

To Joe……..my nephew. When he came into this life…I was there…….and then absent for so many of his important years. I have always been blown away by his total resemblance to his Grandfather Don, and many similarities in their personalities…..I have always felt that his life would have gone in a different direction if we had only acknowledged him. He has left 4 wonderful children with no father……..so sad for them to not be able to know him when they became adults…..relationships are so different with parents and their grown children.
I wish I had known him better….
Love to Maria, Joren, Andrea, Rane, Oliver and Iris
Aunt Mary

Norma Martin
Guest
Norma Martin
12 years ago

My heart feels heavy. I will miss Joseph’s great smile, those eyes and a hug that made you feel like you were really being hugged! He always was a great support to us when we were raising our grandson. I am glad he was in our lives. My heart aches for Maria & family. My thoughts and prayers are with all of you. Norma

Shannyn & Chrissy
Guest
Shannyn & Chrissy
12 years ago

So sad to hear about Joseph. Didn’t know him real well, but Shannyn and Jorin have always been good buddies and Maria’s always been a friend to us. Our prayers go out to all your family. Chrissy & Shannyn

Jenifer Molstad
Guest
Jenifer Molstad
12 years ago

Joe was my cousin too, the one closest in age to me, and I think sometimes in personality too. Like my Mom Mary, I too have always wondered if Joe’s short life would have been different if he had not been given away…I know my life would have been different, better even, if he had been raised with the rest of us crazy Gilroy cousins…we embraced him when he finally did come into our family but there just wasn’t enough time…he will be greatly missed by all whose lives he touched…my heart goes out to Rane,Oliver, Iris, Joren, Maria and Andrea. RIP cuz’, love you…Jen

Jasmine
Guest
Jasmine
12 years ago

My condolences To Maria and her family. My heart is heavy at the thought of what his family is going through. I hope that they fine some sort of peace.

Miranda Shepherd
Guest
Miranda Shepherd
12 years ago

“I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived. I wanted to live deep and suck all the marrow of life”-
Henry David Thoreau

Dear Joe,
Words cannot express the deep sadness I have. I am so grateful to have had you come into my life, as my big brother, so many years ago. I have some wonderful memories of times spent together, laughing, joking, acting as siblings do. I have always been so PROUD to call you my brother. Like a prize I had won. I spoke of you often and thought of you more. Although time and space seperate us now, I am still surrounded by your gentle, loving spirit. Thank you for coming into my life, making me a little sister, and an aunt as well.
I love you.
Your sister,
Mandy

Jason
Guest
Jason
12 years ago

I knew Joe when he first moved to N. California at Davis. My first introduction to a So. Cal punk rock, shaman, real life comic book character, iconic being. We lived together at the 3rd-I house, worked together, and laughed and loved in this bizarre world. I’ll always remember his graceful spirit-filled being. Those who knew him were lucky. Glad to see he grew back his dreads. One of the few honkies who could really pull it off.

May Captain Yo Sail the Seven Seas for all time, AArgh. Ya Fattah

Peace to his family in this time of loss and grief.

With deep sympathy,

Jason Garlynd (formerly Garwick)

judy&shawn&lochlan&nolan
Guest
judy&shawn&lochlan&nolan
12 years ago

All of us are so sad to see Joe go…what a truly loving spirit…with a heart of pure gold. Those eyes will always glow in our memories of you, Joe. We are thankful for your sparkle, your hugs, that laugh and our many cherished years of friendship.
Peace, brother. We will all see you again one day…

Kellie O'Brien
Guest
Kellie O'Brien
12 years ago

Joseph Eddy… how do I explain the tremendous absence that I feel. I met you for the first time in the front yard with Lance and Pat. It was just for a quick beer and then you were outskees… I hadn’t been with Pat for more than a year.. and you had no idea who I was… but you gave me a hug and said “Welcome to the Family.” Since then it was always “Hey Kel” or “Hey Sweetheart”, as if you had known me forever. I could feel the love and respect. And now you are gone, from this reality, and I just want to say thank you. You are a huge part of Pat’s life, hell buddy you saved it, and I feel like I owe you my happiness. Love you.
Love
Me

Lynn Wilbur
Guest
Lynn Wilbur
8 years ago

Joe and his girlfriend Andrea were my housemates in Dixon California in the late 80’s, and I moved in shortly after Rane was born. I was looking at some pictures of Joe on facebook and wondered what happened to him, I am just now discovering that he passed. Joe was such a funny and great guy, I remember Shit Howdy playing under the tree in the front yard at the house near the Milk Farm, with Go Dog Go looking on in awe, and I remember him singing witty lyrics to his dogs Pismo and Anesta (although he was in an instrumental only band at the time, he liked to sing crazy stuff around the house). I am sorry he’s gone.

Vickie Bailey
Guest
Vickie Bailey
5 years ago

Joe was my cousin, his adopted side. My mom was his adopted mom’s sister. I remember his fondly, as children playing at the beach on S. California, going camping with our families. I have lots of pictures of him and I around in our elementary years and younger. Thinking of him I did a search and found the sad news of him passing. Bless you Joe, You will never be forgotten. I will never forget your smile.

Linda Eddy
Guest
Linda Eddy
5 years ago

Joe was a part of our family when he was a baby and little boy. He was my nephew. He was the sweetest little guy. I am sad that his childhood wasn’t a happy one. But reading all of your comments makes my heart happy that he had so many friends and a great family with his children and those he loved and cared about.

It is always hard when such a great life, fatherhood and lover dies way too early in life. My prayers and condolences to his family.

I only met Rane when he was very young. Our family went in so many ways we did not keep up with everyone. I went to Alaska.

I remember Joe getting swimming lessons as a baby. Watching him swim was such a joy.

Rest In Peace Joe Eddy.