Like our many neighborhoods within Gateway Greens, the neighborhood presidents share many common traits. Caring for a community and a willingness to help others without compensation combined with a genuine belief that people are good stand out as the predominant characteristics for this dedicated group of leaders. However, they all have their own stories to tell!
Joe and his wife Paula moved to Florida from Rochester, N.Y., where he does NOT miss the snow! He recalls one year when they still had a home there, they returned to find 7 feet of snow on the roof – and in the process of his time on said roof, he fell into a snow bank where he was lucky enough to be unhurt! His recollection of rolling around within that bank still makes him laugh, but it wasn’t funny at the time! What they do miss are the summer and fall seasons of New York, the Adirondack mountains and being close to their children and Joe’s identical twin brother. Joe and his brother were extremely close growing up: As twins they shared everything, but declining health issues are having a sad impact.
Joe’s story of moving to Gateway has a unique spin: He and his wife kept watching the homes for sale, as they loved the trees, the overall attractiveness of the entire neighborhood, and just the “feel” when they drove through. They finally found their dream home, but were devastated when their offer was not accepted. One day while perusing the newspaper while relaxing in bed, Joe saw that their dream home property was up for sale as a foreclosed property! He then promptly fell out of bed in his haste to act. Sounds like Joe has a penchant for falling! Their offer was accepted and they are still very happy in their home.
Joe leads the Neighborhood Association for The Cottages, and although his role as president was unexpected, it occurred as the natural order of things, given his background. Joe grew up and spent many years living in New York and was a volunteer for the Rochester fire department for 12 years and on the board for four years. That experience ultimately provided him with the motivation to run for Fire Commissioner, where he campaigned door-to-door so that he could help to improve his community. When he and Paula moved to Southwest Florida, he joined the board in the Arborwood community for a few years. When they moved to Gateway Greens, he thought he would take a bit of a break with community service. However, as fate would have it, Joe soon realized that additional support was needed and responded positively when the then-president recruited him. Little did he know of her plans to move away, leaving an opening where he just couldn’t say “no.”
His policy and advice to others is: If you believe change is needed, get involved. If you get involved – stay involved. Don’t sit on the sidelines: Learn about the issues and listen to and be respectful of others. Understand motivations, reasons, impacts and consequences. Communities need help and guidance. It takes time to understand the issues and personalities and where people are coming from, and why. Assumptions are dangerous. Joe most admires those who are honest, have a good heart, are loyal and friendly and are willing to help others.
Joe and Paula love Nokomis beach and often eat at Pop’s restaurant for lunch or early dinner. His favorite music is from the ’70s and ’80s – and he listens to it all the time. After all, the best music and the best cars were when he was growing up! The Rolling Stones, AC/DC, Rod Stewart and the Eagles are his favorites.
Rock on, Joe – the neighborhood is lucky to have you as one of its leaders!
