News: Joe aka Back Alley

[rover]

Only the warmest thoughts and prayers for you Joe.

A big hug Joe... and I wish you the best...

Sometimes the simplest comments are best.

Michael, thank you for sharing with us.

 

[lxmike]

I am very saddened to hear this, my thoughts are with you Joe, your posts were very influential and the reason why I have a lot of Fuji gear. You always came across as a very nice gentleman. I wish you peace and safety.

 

[micromontenegro]

Oh my! Sending good vibes and prayers your way, Joe

 

[JohnWolf]

I’ve been thinking of you lately, Joe, missing your bag posts and wondering where you were. So sorry to learn this, and wishing you strength, health, and peace.

John

 

[Joerg]

All the best Joe!!
I will always think of him as I got my current bag from Joe.

 

[CMur12]

Joe, I hope you find your sister, as well as a safe and comfortable place for you to stay.

I send you good wishes and prayers. Take care.

- Murray

 

[Bingley]

Michael — Many thanks for letting us know. Joe was one of the stalwarts on RFF when I joined nearly 20 years ago.

Joe — Wishing you the best, man! I’ve missed you and I appreciated your posts back in the day and when you were a moderator. You know, I still have (and am using) that Minolta M-Rokkor 40mm f2.0 lens I bought from you back in…. maybe 2010? I’ll think of you now when I shoot with it… it’s such an excellent optic!. Back when I joined RFF, the Canon P was all the rage on the site and I remember you being one of the cheerleaders. Then you made the switch to digital… I really liked your photographs. I hope you can still do a little shooting. Best wishes in finding a good assisted living place and warm wishes for the holidays!

 

[Joerg]

Just an example of how big Joe’s influence/grasp on RFF was, when we had a meeting with 4 or 5 members from MA everyone had a piece that had once belonged to Joe..

 

[Godfrey]

Ach. A sad and terrible year this has been. If you have the ability, please send my heartfelt wishes for succor and health to Joe. 🙁

G
—
"In this fateful hour,
All Heaven with its power,
The sun with its brightness,
The snow with its whiteness,
The fire with all the strength it hath,
The lightning with its rapid wrath,
The winds with their swiftness,
The sea with its deepness,
The rocks with their steepness,
The Earth with its starkness,
All these I place
Between myself and the powers of darkness."

- Madeleine L’Engle from "A Swiftly Tilting Planet"

 

[bgetty]

very sad news. bought a gently used domke from joe on here over a decade ago, and it's still in the rotation...

 

[konicaman]

Wish you all the best Joe. Still enjoying your threads!

 

[Cindy Flood]

So sorry to hear this, Joe. I wish you the best as you move to your new place. I hope that you find your sister soon and can reconnect!

 

[farlymac]

Joe, I hope you get settled in a place with a great view, and somewhere to stroll when the spring returns. I've still got my Domke bags, and if there is one thing I learned from your quest for the perfect bag is that there are many out there for particular situations, but not every situation. Fair winds to you, and good luck in the search for your sister.

PF

 

[p.giannakis]

Oh, that's so sad news. I hope he is well looked after where he is and hopefully he will reunite with his sister.
He was such a big part of RFF when i joined.

 

[Jamie Pillers]

Joe, if you're reading this, thank you SO MUCH for all the time you dedicated to moderating us... MUCH appreciated! Be well.

 

[Gid]

Joe, when I joined RFF you were THE MAN and that is how I always thought of you (and still do). Good luck with your search and very best wishes for a safe future.

 

[JohnGellings]

Don`t know if this is an appropriate thread but older members may recall Joe ( Back Alley) . Just heard from him on Fb and I`m sure that everybody here would want to wish him the very best .
Please move if this is not the appropriate thread.

"I’m looking for my long lost sister…last seen in conn…i have been diagnosed with a form of dementia and I am hoping to make amends with her and a few others …that i was foolish enough to keep in touch with…as to me I am living in a hospital 24/7 while waiting for a move to an assisted living home..if this sounds wonky I have a less than capacity brain and have terrible typing skills on an iPhone…I have been here a bit over a month and hope that a more permanent safe place can be found…we grew up asMmary Ellen and Joey and i think now still use Maria …so any Wagners..Rizzuto’s Peloso is being asked to look at the person next to you and ask if she is my sister…as for old friends photo friends friends friends from around the world an old hello world would be appreciated".

My god, I never made the connection that that Joe from FB was Back Alley on RFF. Heading over to FB. Thank you.

 

[xayraa33]

i am hoping for the best for you Joe and i hope you will make contact with your sister.

 

[Richard G]

Thank you Michael for picking up an important thread of RFF. Joe, I’m very sorry to hear of your great trouble but looks like you’re managing a spirited defence. Yours was the first help I was given here on RFF in learning how to post a photo in a thread 15 years ago. And you’re responsible for me having four camera bags. All that bag selecting and camera shooting, photo editing and RFF posting will have knitted together many corners of your nervous system as a good shield against whatever you’ve got and the proof is in your message and I wish you the best of luck in finding your sister. The grim symmetry of this is that the nurses will have finally cured your bag addiction. And you’ve survived it. Best wishes.

 

[rfaspen]

We have been so lucky to have such great people here at RFF. I remember Joe's hunt for the perfect bag....and it made me think about my own search...just not as deep.

My *very best wishes* to you Joe. You clearly have quite a few RFF friends.