I met Joe at Doppler back in 1985 or 1986 when I commissioned Doppler's SSL. Joe was at that time one of the co-owners, Chief Engineer and Lead Tech.
Doppler was a beautiful purpose-built studio and was extremely well laid-out. The back of the big Studio opened up, through a sound lock/landing to an outdoor truck-high loading dock. Load in and out were easy in that room. You'd back in, open two sets of doors, and the inside of the truck became part of the studio. Getting an orchestra in and out was easy. This had obviously been designed by someone that had been a roadie, or in this case, a tape truck operator.
Doppler had the same vibe and feel as Ardent which is another one of my most-favorite places. Doppler was the epicenter of the southern advertising jingle universe. (I've also worked at JAM Creative Productions which is the radio jingle universe.)
Most commissionings I did for SSL were a total PITA because construction was usually still underway and the owners weren't ready and had too aggressive a timeline to open. As a result I would often be asked to arrive one to two weeks early. Work on the console stopped while someone installed a floor underneath or we'd have to cover the console while someone nearby cut drywall.
Commissioning was an after thought. Not at Doppler. When I got there Joe had the place ready. Prior to this I had never been able to walk in and go to work. I was amazed at the organization of this man.
Joe was probably a pretty good carpenter and woodworker but he hired one of the best to do Doppler's upgrades. Pulling floor troughs open to look at wiring revealed furniture-grade construction everywhere - even under floors! Everything was neat, tidy clean, labeled and properly-grounded. Doppler was one of the easiest commissions I ever did because Joe made it easy. He was organized in everything he did.
A few weeks after my time at Doppler I received a very kind letter of recommendation from Joe that was also sent to SSL. He and I spoke occasionally by phone after that - the time was still pre-Internet.
In about 2006 or 2007 Joe contacted me about the Pico Compressor kits and we have been in contact on and off ever since. At one point he did an outboard preamp using one of my THAT 1510 reference designs and actually named it "Wayne's" Mic Preamp.
viewtopic.php?f=7&t=339
Last summer Joe redid Sam's Tape Truck's preamps and we worked together, by phone and email, on that. During that time there was no mention of any illness and we talked about doing a layout for a future product together.
Joe gave me some advice on solar panels which caused me to visit his home by satellite imaging. His and his wifes' new home in Ellijay Georgia, north of Atlanta, was beautiful. IIRC Joe told me that he made a deal with his wife to build an art studio for her while he built a huge garage and workshop for Sams' Tape Truck.
I'm going to miss Joe. I could always count on Joe for honest and solid technical advice gained from years of field experience.
What I will miss most however is a good, honest, hard-working true friend.
Joe with his cannon.